CHIPLEY, Fla. (WMBB) — Chipley High School freshman Jaci Renfro placed third at the U.S. Weightlifting Championships.
This was Renfro’s first year competing at nationals – he qualified last year but was unable to raise the funds to travel.
This is only Renfro’s second year of weightlifting, but he has already won two medals at state meets and a bronze medal at USA-W Nationals. He placed second at the Olympic state meet as a sophomore and third at the Olympic state meet as a junior.
“We went into the offseason and started making adjustments to some of the bigger things that we didn’t want to adjust in the regular season,” Chipley girls weightlifting coach Allison Ladd said. “She’s made big strides this year at district meets, state meets and national meets.”
Renfro started weightlifting because it was a required subject for cheerleading, and although she grew up as a gymnast and cheerleader, she didn’t like weightlifting at first.
“I didn’t like it at first because it was boring, but it just grew on me,” Renfro said.
She attributes her natural strength to good genes inherited from her parents, and Rudd said calling her gifted would be an understatement.
“She’s a freak athlete,” Ladd said. “She’s one of a kind. I had to come to my senses at the U.S. championships and cry. Every time she sets a new PR, it’s amazing. Not only is she so small, but she’s lifting so much weight.”
The Chipley girls weightlifting program is still in its infancy, but participation has grown over the past few years, and Renfro has been a factor in the team’s growth.
For Renfro, it’s his family and the Tigers community that keep him going.
“I want to aim higher,” Renfro said, “and win the national championship next year and support my community and make them proud.”
Renfro hopes to win national championships next year and also win a gold medal at the state meet during his senior season.
