POWER: Griffin captures Region III title
in the squat competition. (Photo courtesy of Kerri Griffin)
Shelbyville's Kelsi Griffin has set the bar high and she doesn't plan on taking a back seat to any powerlifter in Class 1A this season. In fact, she's making a strong bid against lifters in all classifications.
Griffin went to the Girls' Region III Powerlifting Meet in Forney Saturday with the goal of not only qualifying for the State Meet in the 181-pound weight class, but setting a personal record doing it. She accomplished both goals, surpassing the State-qualifying weight of 775 pounds by 25 pounds, setting a personal record for total weight and advancing to the Class 1A State Powerlifting Meet as the top lifter in Region III.
Griffin, who not only took top honors against the Class 1A competition, but finished fourth overall in classifications 1A-5A, and will now prepare for the State competition in Corpus Christi on March 19.
The Shelbyville junior set her goal of reaching the State qualifying weight total of 775 pounds in the bench press, dead lift and squad competition before she attended Saturday's meet.
With the guidance of Shelbyville powerlifting head coach Michael Taylor and her trainer and sister, Keni Griffin, took the offensive when she set a personal best with a top lift of 340 in the squat competition.
Kelsi followed that up with a personal best in the bench press with a top lift of 140 pounds.
Heading into the final round of competition, Kelsi was in seventh place among Class 1A-5A lifter and trailed the Class 1A leader by 10 pounds.
She responded to the challenge ahead by setting yet another personal best with 320 pounds in the dead lift, giving her a ground total of 800 pounds, which moved her into fourth place in all classifications and secured top honors against Class 1A competition.