The strongest young women in the Keys met in Marathon on Oct. 28 for a tri-meet in girls weightlifting. Despite being a relatively new sport for Monroe County athletes, each season brings marked improvement and stronger competition among local lifters, and last week’s scores showed just how competitive the teams have become.
In the Olympic contest, Key West and Coral Shores tied at 35 points each, with Marathon just two points behind. In the traditional event, Marathon took top honors with 35 points, while Key West trailed by one and Coral Shores by three.
With the scores so close, each school saw individual winners. The Conchs had double winners, meaning athletes who won both the Olympic and traditional competitions, in three weight classes. At 101 pounds, Courtney Ward had no problem winning with an 80-pound clean and jerk that outmatched her closest competitor by 45 pounds. At 119 pounds, Mayaa Makimaa earned dual wins as well. Teammate Ariel Newton swept the 139-pound competition and registered a noteworthy 140-pound bench press, which won the contest by 60 pounds and was the highest bench press recorded in any weight class.
In the 110-pound class, Key West’s Olivia Wiggins won the traditional contest, while Monea McLeod and Isabel Marsh shared the honors in the unlimited class. McLeod won the Olympic contest, while Marsh took the win in traditional lifts.
Marathon had three dual winners of its own, starting with Rilynn Richards at 129 pounds. Teammates Adelle Bainbridge and Alyssa De La Torre did the same at 154 and 183 pounds, respectively, to round out the Fins’ wins.
Coral Shores’ Caylyn Gwilliam won both contests in her 169-pound class, and Lily Ooms repeated the feat at 199. Julia Rusch won the Olympic event at 110 pounds to complete the Hurricanes’ weight class winners.
With all three teams finishing within three points of one another in both competitions, the meet offered an early indication that bragging rights in the Keys will be anything but easy to claim this season.
