Muscle Tone Goes South

The Optimum Pro Classic made its debut in Shreveport, Louisiana, on May 21, attracting large lineups in figure as well as bikini. If the show didn’t get quite as much attention as it might have, it was only because of the intense interest in the initial women’s physique competition and other pro qualifiers taking place at the Junior USA a couple of states away in South Carolina. The results, however, were not to be overlooked.

Figure first. Twenty-three comely quarter-turners turned up for the figure battle. Candice Keene, who suffered a one-point loss to Cheryl Brown at the Europa Show of Champions on April 30, got even here, scoring the third pro win of her career, the first in 2011. Ironically, it was also a one-point margin, with Krissy Chin, who’s in the process of streamlining her physique—and those shoulders—taking the runner-up slot.

Third place at this top-three Olympia qualifier went to Ella Horton, who was the over-45 winner at last season’s Masters Nationals. At nearly 50 she will be the oldest athlete yet to compete in the Figure Olympia, but she will not be alone. Kristen Nagrani who is mid-40-something, qualified in with a third-place finish in Pittsburgh on May 7.

Fourth, in her best pro showing to date, went to Ann Titone, while Charmayne Jackson rounded out the top five.

Photo: Candice Keene

Find the complete results below:

’11 IFBB Optimum Classic Pro Figure

1) Candice Keene*
2) Krissy Chin*
3) Ella Horton*
4) Ann Titone
5) Charmayne Jackson
6) Monica Escalante
7) Sara Hurrle
8) Petra Mertl
9) Amy Vetter
10) Aleisha Hart
11) Tivisay Briceno
12) Stephanie McDonald
13) Natalie Waples
14) Rachel Gichert
15) Amy Lee Martin
16) Emily Nicholson
17) Mona Muresan
18) Danielle Kifer
18) Kristin Nunn
18) Shalmieno Paper
18) Susan Salazar
18) Kimberly Sheppard
18) Sandi Stuart

*Qualifies for the’11 Figure Olympia.