Doublin, Baldridge win national titles

<p>For all of its athletic successes, Brigham Young University had never had a female individual national champion in any sport.</p><p>Jennica Baldridge became the first on Saturday, taking first in the 63-kilogram raw division at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. She had finished second last year.</p><p>Baldridge was one of two Franklin graduates to claim a national title over the weekend. Kloie Doublin, now a freshman at Midland University in Nebraska, dominated the competition in the 72-kilogram raw division on Sunday.</p><p>Baldridge, who weighed in at 138 pounds, clinched victory with an American collegiate record of 186 kilograms (410 pounds) on her final deadlift — good enough to take first place by half a kilogram. She had previously put up 137.5 kg (303 pounds) on the squat and 85 kg (187 pounds) on the bench press.</p><p>Doublin, the top-ranked collegiate lifter in the country, opted not to go full throttle as she prepares for the IPF World Championships in June. She went considerably lighter than she did at last month’s Arnold Classic and passed on each of her final-round lifts, but still had more than enough to win on Sunday evening.</p><p>With a slim lead after putting up 170 kg (375 pounds) on the squat, Doublin pulled away with a bench press of 110 kg (242 pounds) and then clinched the title with a final deadlift of 190.5 kg (420 pounds).</p>