MARATHON’S JUSTICE LEE ADDS TO MEDAL COLLECTION WITH WINS AT AAU STATES

a woman holding up a banner with a fish on it
ustice Lee poses with her AAU hardware on Aug. 24. CONTRIBUTED

Justice Lee made school history last winter with a pair of state gold medals in weightlifting. The now-junior didn’t take a break from competition in the offseason, despite playing two other varsity sports and juggling school and numerous clubs. 

With a strong showing early this summer at the SOFLA Open, Lee earned a bid to the AAU Florida State Tournament held in Auburndale on Aug. 24. The dynamo successfully lifted enough combined weight to earn a silver medal in Olympic lifts and gold in traditional lifts. Girls weightlifting officially opens in Florida in early October, giving Lee plenty of time to boost her numbers as she attempts to defend her titles in 2025.

Tracy McDonald
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.