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Hernando Today

HHS' Hayes: Staying Busy

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 9, 2008

If you're familiar with a lot of teenage girls, then you know many of them have a lot of idle times on their hands.

That certainly is not the case with Hernando High weightlifter Melody Hayes.

The senior goes for her first medal in the State Weightlifting Finals Tournament this Saturday at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey.

Look closer

Upon closer inspection, Hayes is anything but a one-dimensional person.

Hayes takes college classes four days a week at Pasco-Hernando Community College, lifts weights twice-a-day and is a flag bearer with the Leopard band.

And oh yes, she's also a weightlifter prepping for the state's elite meet.

"It feels great knowing I'm going to the state tournament, knowing that all that hard work is paying off," remarked Hayes, a senior. "It's a wonderful feeling and I'm going there to do my best and hopefully get a top-six finish.

Hayes has lifted weights for four years at the school after transferring from Georgia in her freshman year and just missed making the state tournament last year.

This year she finished second at the Section V state qualifying meet in Belleview when she bench-pressed 175 pounds and lifted 145 pounds in the clean-and-jerk portion for a total of 320 pounds, good for a 12th seed in the unlimited weight division for today's meet.

When asked if she was surprised making the tournament, Hayes said she wasn't.

"No, I've been working all year and I've been aiming for it. Then I looked at what other people did and I knew I was in the top 12," she said during this past week's Hernando County Championship Meet.

"I had the confidence, I've been working at it and I knew it was going to pay off," added Hayes.

Second to one

Hayes finished second in both the county and Section V tournaments to Central High's veteran lifter, Johnisha Jackson. In the recent county meet, Jackson had totals of 200-150-350 while Hayes lifted 175-135-310.

Then the week before in the Section V tournament in Belleview, Jackson came in first in the unlimited class with lifts of 200-140-340 while Hayes was second with lifts of 175-145-320.

Her parents, Marcia and Leon Hayes, are in Hayes' words, "Pretty cool with it because they know I have been lifting since I was in eighth grade as a hobby. They thought it was pretty fun and it was something I could do that would keep me out of their hair."

Her coach, Judi Decker, is hoping Hayes can have a good finish in the state meet because of all the work's she has done.

"She's fantastic," insisted Decker. "This is her fourth (year) lifting with me and last year she just missed the state tournament, so I'm hoping she can medal this week."

Busy body

Hayes is especially busy now with her weightlifting, going to college and performing with the high school band.

Hayes says that lifting weights is a great relief for her.

"It relieves a lot of stress for me," she said last week. "It's relaxing for me and it keeps me strong and probably right now, I'm stronger than half the boys in my weightlifting class."

With college classes four days a week, Hayes has a busy time getting all her workouts in.

"I'm working out a lot more that I used to," she said. "I have a weightlifting class in the morning. Then I have college classes and get out about 5:30. Then I rush home, shower and eat, then come back to the school here at 7 a.m. and work out with the team.

"I know it's going to better myself," said Hayes. "I enjoy lifting weights. It keeps me active and healthy. It keeps my mind clear and with school and everything, it keeps it fun for me. I am a busy teen."

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