Matanzas' Kayla Short makes history, qualifies for states

By Andrew OBrien
| 5:00 a.m. January 28, 2014

Matanzas junior Kayla Short took second place at sectionals, in the unlimited weight class. (Courtesy photo)

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Kayla Short made history last week after taking second place at the girls weightlifting sectional meet.

Short, a junior at Matanzas, became the first weightlifter in Lady Pirates history to qualify for the state meet.

Short went 6-for-6 on her lifts in the unlimited weight class, setting personal records in both the bench press and the clean-and-jerk. She had 195 on the bench and 150 on the clean-and-jerk, for a 345-pound total.

The state meet is Feb. 8, in Kissimmee.

Kayla Walker, a sophomore, finished seventh in the 154-pound weight class at sectionals and missed out on qualifying for states. Walker went 4-for-6 on her lifts, setting personal records in the bench press (120 pounds) and the clean-and-jerk (135 pounds). She had a 255-poun total.

“(I’m) very proud,” coach Sara Novak said of both Short and Walker. “(They) have worked hard.”