Kenai Central senior Booth takes 2nd at Raw Nationals

Kenai Central senior Kelsey Booth did not win the championship she wanted at the USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals on Thursday in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but it did take an all-time great performance to beat her.

Competing at 114 pounds and under in the teen 2 (16- and 17-year-olds) category, Booth finished second to Caitlin Golden of New York. Golden set all the USAPL American records — bench, squat, deadlift and three-lift total — en route to her win.

“My goal was to initially win nationals because this was only Caitlin Golden’s second meet,” Booth said from Pennsylvania. “She’s just naturally stronger than me, so I was thrown off a bit.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Booth still put on a nearly flawless performance. She hit all three of her squats with a best of 198 pounds and hit all three of her bench presses with a best of 105 pounds.

She nailed her first two deadlifts to get to 226 pounds before her third deadlift of 236 pounds came up so fast that she allowed the bar to drop a bit to disqualify the lift, though she was still able to lock out the lift.

Her squat, bench and three-lift total are state records.

“I’m extremely happy with how I did, especially because it is my first national meet,” Booth said. “Caitlin now has four American records and I know I’d love to be in her place, but sometimes things like that happen.”

Booth also wanted to qualify for USA’s international powerlifting squad, but she will be an alternate to Golden.

Booth burst on the powerlifting scene at the 31st Alaska Powerlifting Championship in early May when she set an American record for her age and weight class in the squat at 194 pounds. She had just started powerlifting the previous summer.

She went to Raw Nationals looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Peninsula teen lifters Cipriana Castellano and Robin Johnson, who each won national titles and qualified for international competition at Raw Nationals in 2014. Castellano and Johnson were not at Raw Nationals this year.

Despite finishing second, Booth said the experience was invaluable.

“Going into nationals really changed my perspective on a lot of things — how people approach the platform, how people take care of themselves,” Booth said. “The powerlifting community is a very welcoming place.

“I met a lot of amazing people I can keep in touch with as I grow as a powerlifter.”

Booth also said she learned a lot about herself as a competitor. Rob Schmidt, Booth’s coach and the Alaska State Chair for USAPL, told her that her lifts had great technique, probably due to an intense focus Booth said she achieved for the first time.

“The level of concentration I got into was one of the best highs ever,” Booth said. “It was like tunnel vision. I couldn’t hear anyone except for my platform coach and Rob.”

Booth said she got great support from all the Alaskans in attendance, particularly Kaylie and Theresa Ball from Anchorage.

Schmidt wrote in a text message that the meet had 1,147 competitors, making it the largest known meet in the history of the sport.

Booth said she would like to keep the popularity of the sport going at the Dena’ina Powerlifting Challenge at Kenai Central on Nov. 21.

As for Booth’s career, she would like to continue powerlifting while going to college next year.

“I’m going to train harder to make myself better,” she said. “I made a lot of new friends here that will inspire me to be better.

“Next year, I’m going to be the strongest Kelsey I can be.”

More in Sports

Mike Lundgren of Homer, playing for the Kenai River Wolfpack, snatches the ball from Austin Hinton of the Bird Creek Barbarians at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament at Kenai's Millennium Square on Saturday, July 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Dipnest Fest: Alaska Rugby Union Hall of Fame event with a Hall of Fame organizer

The Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament has been held at Kenai’s… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Watching the fish roll in

The incoming tide was headed our way so we could restart our game of “Spot the violations” as the silvers rolled in.

Martin Flora leads Jerry Parsons on the way to winning the Modified Dirty 30 on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Flora wins Modified Dirty 30 at Twin City Raceway

Martin Flora of Fairbanks won the Modified Dirty 30 on Saturday, July… Continue reading

tease
Janssen, Fallon win 1st 2 weeks of Salmon Run Series

The Salmon Run Series at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna drew… Continue reading

tease
Results posted for Races 1 and 2 at Soldotna Cycle Series

The Soldotna Cycle Series held its first two races of the season… Continue reading

tease
Twins sweep road trip, win 14th straight game

Editor’s note: The story corrects the length of the Twins winning streak.… Continue reading

Daniel Steffensen bats against the Post 35 Road Warriors on Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park as part of the 100th anniversary of American Legion Baseball in Alaska. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
100 years of Legion baseball in Alaska celebrated Saturday

Twins defeated the Post 35 Road Warriors

Zac Cowan putts a golf ball into a hole during the Alaska Sign Source Pro Am at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Azzara, Moore win Birch Ridge Pro Am

The top four pros were rounded out by Zac Cowan with 78 and Bill Engberg at 84.

tease
1st Soldotna Cycle Series of the year draws 49

The first Soldotna Cycle Series race took place Thursday, July 10, at… Continue reading

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in