BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School’s Chloe Still was a runner-up at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Girls Weightlifting Finals, which were held Feb. 13 in Lakeland.
Still, competing in the 139-pound class, passed out before she could complete her first clean-and-jerk attempt. However, she was able to return and successfully lift 145 pounds. She then had successful bench-press attempts of 155 and 170, giving her an overall total of 315 pounds. That left her trailing champion Gia Griffith of Orlando’s Faith Christian by 60 pounds, while putting her 20 pounds ahead of third-place finisher Maddie Knight of Baker.
It was Still’s third straight state appearance and her first in which she earned a medal. She concluded a season in which she won the traditional championships in her class at the district and regional levels.
Keystone’s Ashlyn Brown was one place shy of earning a medal at this year’s state meet, placing seventh in the 169 class of the traditional event with a 300 total (155 clean and jerk, 145 bench). Teammate Kaylee Park placed 10th in the 129 class in traditional with an overall total of 270 (140 clean and jerk, 130 bench).
Three other Keystone lifters competed in traditional. Ava Herman was 13th in the unlimited class with a 320 total (155, 165), while Tatum Hall was 15th in the 154 class with a 275 total (145, 130). Kylie Scott had a 19th-place total of 180 (80,100) in the 101 class.
Park and Still also competed in the Olympic event, with Park tying for 11th with two other lifters with a 235 total (95 snatch, 140 clean and jerk). Still had a 20th-place total of 220 (75, 145).
