Coral Shores made the short trip to Marathon on Feb. 7 for an early-season weightlifting meet. Marathon won both events 40-29 in the teams’ second meetup of the season. Boys weightlifting is scored similarly to the girls teams in that there are two events at each meet. Athletes all participate in the clean and jerk competition, and that score is combined with the bench press for the traditional event and snatch for the Olympic event. All winners last week won both events.
Double winners for Coral Shores were Kristers Vutans in the 139-lb. class and AJ Johnson at 219 lbs. For Marathon, Chase Leird (119), Zachary Antonelli (129), Damian Staciewicz (154), Vitalii Konyk (169), Max Childress (183), Tanner Ross (199) and Alex Cruz (238) all won their weight classes in both the traditional and Olympic events.
Both schools will compete again on Valentine’s Day in a tri-meet to be held at Gulliver Prep. Their season culminates with districts, beginning at the end of March.
All three Keys high schools are sending multiple athletes to the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Championships this weekend in Lakeland. If the gentlemen prove to be as talented as the ladies, their state championships will be held at the same location in mid-April.
Coral Shores’ Zane Rindon was the runner up in the 219 lb. class 
Hurricane athlete Xavier Johnson was second at 183 lbs. 
Vitalii Konyk won the 169 lb. division in both categories on Feb. 7. 
169 lb. lifter Sebastian Diaz of Coral Shores was second in his weight class. 
Dolphins’ strongman Max Childress won both events in the 183 lb. category. 
Kristers Vutnans was one of Coral Shores’ double winners last week. Vutnans competes in the 139 lb. class. 
199 lb. runner-up AJ Delgado competes for Coral Shores at a Feb. 7 meet held in Marathon. 
Marathon’s Aiden Richard finishes in third place in the 154 lb. class.
