Just ask IFBB North American promoter Gary Udit if he has seen positive growth in the Women's Physique division of the North American Championships since moving the contest to Pittsburgh and he'll quickly quote the numbers of the open division.
In 2012 when the event still offered three height classes the contest drew 32 contestants as Jill Rudison captured the overall title. Last year the event swelled to 53 entrants with the addition of a fourth height class and Desunka Dawson winning the overall c
rown. This year, however, the proverbial dam broke as 76 women lined up to take a number in the four height classes. As is often said, numbers don't lie. And that magical number of 76 didn't even include those women who had also opted to enter the Masters Over-35 and Masters Over-45 Physique divisions.
Somewhere in this sea of female Physique humanity the top two finishers in each of the four Open classes, plus the top two placers in the Over-35 and Over-45 divisions, a total of 17 competitors (with crossovers taken into account) garnered entrance to the IFBB pro ranks. It made for one of the biggest days for the amateur Physique division since its inception in 2011. And with that, let the parade begin…
'A' Class
In a very large 'A' class of 18 contestants Texan Laura Foster and New Jersey's Debbie Gaccione helped create a rare judging oddity, but when considering the size of the contest in general it's understandable unusual results can surface. In this class Foster and Gaccione proved to be the standouts as both were brought out in the first call-out. And with the top two in each height class qualifying for pro status, they started the evening race for Physique pro cards with a bang.
Foster has made major improvements in her overall look since 2012 (she was 16th at the NPC Nationals that year) and has placed third at the last two NPC USA events coming into the 2014 season. Here, she looked to be the best of the bunch The unusual aspect of this duo's 'tie that binds' was that they were both entered in the Masters Physique 'A' division, but as fate would have it, the judges reversed their decision on the two as Debbie Gaccione got the Masters win while Foster took second.
One can only assume that the time that passed between the two judging periods altered how they looked just enough to make a difference. The scores must have been agonizingly close. But, the good news was that either way, both snapped up their pro cards, while 16 other contestants were simply left to be perplexed… or at the very least confused.
If there was one competitor who would qualify as most perplexed it would have been Indiana's Linda Simnick. And why? She finished third behind Foster and Gaccione in both the Open and Masters classes. And running a close second in the 'frustration race' Shannan Roskam from Colorado placed fifth in the Open class and fourth in the Masters. There's an old saying that goes, "Let a smile be your umbrella." But this was not that day for Roskam and Simnick. Making the final Open 'A' top five complete was Florida's Tonya Griffin. Her smile would have been one of relief from not entering the Masters!
'B' C
lass
Although the majority of the 23-contestant (the largest of the four height classes) field many not have realized it, but one competitor in this class is something of a celebrity star from another sport. And her celebrity notwithstanding, she put a beat down on this class to win decisively. Her name is Gillian Ward, and that wouldn't mean much to anyone in the building, but had she been introduced as Gillian Mounsey, anyone who follows the CrossFit sport would know the name immediately – and in that rugged survival of the fittest and toughest, she's a certifiable star.
For Ward, the Physique competition must have felt like a walk in the park – a simple flexing of the muscle she has developed through CrossFit. Granted much more of the impressive physique she possesses was on display this weekend, it was plenty good enough to compare well against 22 other women.
Showing strength, grace, a dynamite set of biceps, nice overall structural balance, a great double biceps pose and a posing ability that may have surprised those who thought a CrossFit competitor might not be capable of making that transition, Ward flexed her way to becoming a two-sport star. And for good measure, Ward won the Masters Over-35 class to double her victory total. And did we mention the 36-year-old was the 1995 USMC National Physical Fitness Champion. It might also be worth mentioning that Ward is a quick study in Physique co
ntests. In her only other competition she finished eighth at this year's NPC Junior USA. She'll be fun to watch as she progresses.
Kentucky's Sheronica Henton claimed the runner-up spot to Ward avoiding the same type of rush for the pro cards that the 'A' experienced. Henton also made notable improvements after placing fifth in this class at the 2013 NPC Nationals.
Finishing third was Arkansas's Brooke Walker, followed by New York's Maria Aparicio-Lomax who earned a measure of satisfaction placing second to Ward in the Masters Over-35 class.
Rounding out the top five was Texan Elizabeth Bradshaw.
'C' Class
Star Blaylock. If there was an appropriate name for this dazzling Texan on this night it was 'Star'. She was also the comeback competitor of the class as well. In 2004 she was well on her way to reaching the national level when she won the MW and overall NPC Texas title. In 2005 she placed fourth in the LtHW class at the NPC USA. By 2007 she was the runner-up in the LtHW at the NPC USA and the
n she quietly drifted from the competitive scene.
Whether or not it was the Physique division that drew her back, Blaylock returned in 2013 and with little fanfare she finished 14th in the 'B' Physique class at the NPC Nationals. But she redoubled her efforts, and this year she entered the North American Championships with a sharp, polished, even possessed look. She placed third in the Over-35 Masters class and won the Open North American Physique title in a field of 21 competitors. Star indeed. She was away from the stage for nearly a decade. Hopefully, now, she'll be on stage much more often. She deserves the accolades that will come her way… as a pro!
Runner-up Dawn Romenesko appeared on the scene as have many others – only on t
his night, she shot straight to the pro qualifying placement. From Wisconsin, Romenesko was a Figure competitor in 2013 placing second in the Wisconsin state show. This year there was little warning of her quality after a 9th place finish at the NPC Masters Nationals. But as they say, "It depends on who's on stage with you at the time." And in this sizeable field of 21 contestants, only one was better, and that was plenty good enough to nudge her into the pro ranks. Right place, right time, right look!
Third placed Oregonian Angel Saucier can also relate to being in the right place at the right time. Her finish left her just short of a pro spot, but with her entry in the Over-35 class… presto, she finished second in the Masters race and found her way to the pro level anyway. No doubt she had the right look in that group.
California's Kat Secure finished fourth with Kim Bliss taking the fifth-place spot to go with a fourth-place finish in the Masters Over-35 class.
'D' Class
Since 1983 the NPC Emerald Cup has produced a dizzying array of outstanding competitors in every division such as Olympian Sheila Bleck in Bodybuilding, Bikini Olympia winner Sonia Gonzales, and then Fitness star (and now Physique Olympian) Sabrina Taylor. Now the Emerald Cup has again sprouted another standout performer in Physique competitor Kellyn Huehn-Petersen. Fresh from winning the overall Emerald Cup back in April, her look in the taller class was just what the judges were looking for in a sometimes nightmarishly difficult class to judge.
From Washington, Peter
sen may find herself in a dizzying level of possibilities as to how and when to proceed to the pro level. The upside is that she is already there. It's simply a matter of deciding when and where to make her debut – especially when considering she also flexed her way to the overall IFBB North American Physique crown. Things happen fast when you win the 'Big One'.
Hyphenated names seemed to be the order of the day in this class as Californian Twana Barnett-Ferguson stepped up to take the second pro card available in this class. Using a balanced physique as her strongest calling card along with a steamy, exotic, feline look that commanded attention… she got it. And she made her point again when she took home top honors in the masters Over-35 class. She'll make a very interesting inclusion into the pro ranks.
Third went to another veteran competitor and former bodybuilder Trish Swander. From Harlingen, Texas – hometown of Rachel McLish – Swander was a HW runner-up at the 1998 NPC Junior Nationals and was an accomplished powerlifter holding several state records in her weight class. She capped her strong placing in the Open class here by adding a victory in the Masters Over-45 class to complete the evening. In remarkable fashion, Swander has managed to retain the same sizzle she displayed in the late 90's. Must be something in the Texas water as Rachel McLish has also held on to the same youthful flare she showed in the 80's.
Lindsey Rojas of Nevada claimed the fourth-place spot and her top-five placing here far exceeds any of her past placings at a national-level event.
From Illinois, Kasia Topor finished fifth with one of the contest's most underrated physiques. A consistently strong placer at national-level events Topor shows a thoroughbred style of musculature that leaves an audience wanting see a little more. With further work on getting the most of her muscle shapes and structure in her routines, those future audiences will want to see a lot more. All was not lost with her fifth-place showing, however, as she came back strong to finish second in her class in the Masters division earning pro status. With this competitor you get the feeling she's only just getting started.
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