Kaela Stephano and Taylor Babb, 2017 CrossFit Games Teen Athletes, Win Gold at USAW Youth National Championships

In April, Kaela Stephano (17) and Taylor Babb (16) qualified for the 2017 CrossFit Games in the Teenage Girls 16-17 division. Stephano finished 2nd overall and Babb ended up in 9th.

Both Stephano and Babb also traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, this past weekend to compete in the 2017 USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships.

Stephano (53kg) went 1-for-3 in the snatch and 3-for-3 in the clean and jerk to run away with the weight category gold medal. Stephano snatched 62kg (136 pounds) and ended with a 93kg (205 pounds) clean and jerk for a 155kg total. The total was 24kg ahead of 2nd place.

Stephano’s 93kg clean and jerk set a new Youth American Record, besting Jourdan Delacruz’s record by 1kg.

Set a new #AmericanRecord🇺🇸 today on the CnJ @93 kg. Took gold in snatch, CnJ, and total in the 53 kg weight class. Last year lifting at #youthnationals and second year in a row as #nationalchampion Went 3/3 on the CnJ and 4/6 overall. Huge thank you to everyone who tuned in to cheer me on and to @hype.rob for coaching me to another victory. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭ Just 39 days out from the #2017reebokcrossfitgames #1down1togo #17NYC #roadtothefittest #roadtomadison #teamusa #exosleeve #nomorenakedknees #firstamericanrecord @exosleeve @usa_weightlifting @nobullproject

A post shared by Kaela Stephano (@kaelastephano) on Jun 25, 2017 at 7:33am PDT

Babb (63kg) went 6-for-6 finishing with an 86kg snatch (189 pounds), 106kg clean and jerk (233 pounds) and a 192kg total. Babb beat 2nd place by 20kg.

Babb’s lifts would also be good for three new American Youth Records. Her snatch bested her previous record of 80kg set back in February of this year. She would set the Youth American Clean & Jerk Record as well as the Youth American Total Record.

Babb would also be named the Women’s Best Overall Lifter with a Sinclair Total of 254.85.

Papa Babb back at it again with the amazing coaching. I know I’m hard to deal with sometimes, so thank you so much for everything you do. Not only as a parent, but as a coach too. This one’s for you dad❤️ #papababb #bestcoach #usaweightliftingyouthnationals #nyc2017

A post shared by Taylor Babb (@taylor.babb) on Jun 25, 2017 at 9:07pm PDT

Now the athletes will turn their attention back to CrossFit as they will be competing August 3-6 in Madison, Wisconsin, at the 2017 CrossFit Games.