Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School’s Leah Clark lifted her way to the Class 1A state finals by placing second in her weight class at the Region 2 finals, which were held Feb. 4 at West Nassau High School.
Clark had a bench press of 135 and a clean and jerk of 140 to finish with a 275 total in the 139 class. That put her 10 pounds ahead of West Nassau’s Peyton Bass. Pierson Taylor’s Amya Ramos won the championship with a 310 total.
The champions of each weight class at each of the four regions in Class 1A qualified to go to state, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at RP Funding Center-Jenkins Arena in Lakeland.
An additional 16 lifters in each class received at-large bids based upon a comparison of region totals.
Taleya Smith fell. 15 pounds shy of earning an at-large berth. She placed fifth in the 154 class with a 245 total (115 bench press, 130 clean and jerk).
Union also had the following results: Hailey Rivera with a 185 total (85, 100) in the 119 class, Hayley Burke with a 215 total (100, 115) in the 154 class, Gracelyn Manning with a 245 total (125, 120) in the 199 class and Jaira Highland with a 235 total (120, 115) in the 199 class.
Clark will lift in the morning session at the state finals, which will begin at 8 a.m.
Admission is $9. Tickets can be purchased via rpfundingcenter.com.
The cost to park at the venue is $10.
