Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School took first in seven of the 10 weight classes in capturing the District 5-1A girls weightlifting championship on Jan. 18 at Fort White High School.
It was the second straight district title for the Tornadoes, who had a team score of 74 to place ahead of Palatka, which had a score of 61.
Bradford will send a total of 15 lifters to the Region 2 meet, which will be held Saturday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m. at Father Lopez High School in Daytona Beach. The top six in each weight class at the District 5 meet earned the right to advance.
Three Bradford lifters finished in first place by at least 155 pounds: Brianna Jordan with a 435 total (235 bench press, 200 clean and jerk) in the 154 class, Courtney Comer with a 440 total (255, 185) in the 169 class and Mahailya Reeves with a 575 total (360, 215) in the unlimited class. Jordan and Comer were ahead of their nearest competitors by 155 and 165 pounds, respectively, while Reeves took her win by 170 pounds.
Hannah McFarland finished in first by 95 pounds, winning the 110 class with a 245 total (110, 135).
The Tornadoes’ other champs were Mikayla Cooper with a 240 total (115, 125) in the 199 class, Takeirra Bakken with a 355 total (175, 180) in the 183 class and Gabby Oliver with a 340 total (195, 145) in the 199 class.
Jessica Traylor finished as runner-up to teammate Reeves in the unlimited class with a 405 total (220, 185). Allie McFarland was a second-place finisher as well, compiling a 245 total (125, 120) in the 139 class.
Bradford had three earn third-place finishes: Abbie Markham with a 175 total (90, 85) in the 101 class, Breann Ponce with a 220 total (115, 105) in the 129 class and Raven Ford with a 250 total (125, 125) in the 154 class.
Presley Acree was fourth in the 119 class with a 150 total (80, 70), while two lifters placed sixth: Kristen Hodges with a 180 total (100, 80) in the 129 class and Emma Franke with a 210 total (110, 100) in the 169 class.
Blakeleigh Smith missed out on a regional berth by one place, finishing with a seventh-place total of 160 (80, 80) in the 139 class.
