Tauti Girl—Kristi Gets 'Em at the Sac

I’m looking at the comparison shots from the Sacramento Pro figure, held last Saturday, November 7, in the California capital,and  it’s easy to see why the scores were so very close: the top-five placers all looked very good. It’s also not difficult to see why Kristi Tauti, coming off a close runner-up placing to Felicia Romero at the Border States a couple of weeks ago, managed to eak out the win: She was just a little tighter than the others, and on Kristi, tighter is what works.

Still, the competition at the top was so tough that defending champ Huong Arcinas had to settle for third, making way for Kristi, who was sixth last year at this show, and newcomer Cheryl Brown who quarter-turned her way into the runner-up spot. (No surprises for this reporter there.) The judges certainly had a tough time—no one got a perfect score in either round, and four points separated Kristi, in her first-ever pro win, from fourth-placer JulieAnn Kulla in her return to the figure stage after a year’s layoff. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a string of close scores like that in which the winner was included (third through sixth is more usual).

For the record, Tauti got 24 points, Brownie got 25 and Huong and JulieAnn were locked at 26 before the tie-breaker rules were applied to award Huong the third Olympia qualification. Akane Nigro-Ismeal rounded out the top five, duplicating her result from the Border States. If I’d been there, I probably wouldn’t have complained if she’d finished higher.

Coming up on Saturday: The Kentucky Pro Figure, a.k.a. the very last pro show of the season. Expect some of the gals who came close at this one to join the gang on the East Coast for one last shot at an early Olympia qualification for 2010.

Find the complete results  from the Sac below.

Photos (from top):

Kristi Tauti held her condition from the Border States last month.

Cheryl Brown, here at the masters nationals last July, has been on the fast track all season—and what’s not to like? She qualified for the O in her second show.

Huong Arcinas positively glowed at the ’09 Figure Olympia, and now next year’s invite is taken care of. Good work.

JulieAnn Kulla, here in 2008, got plenty of buzz at the Sac—as in, a lot of folks thought she was going to win. Welcome back, JulieAnn!

’09 IFBB Sacramento Pro Figure Grand Prix

1) Kristi Tauti*
2) Cheryl Brown*
3) Huong Arcinas*
4) Julie Ann Kulla
5) Akane Nigro-Ismeal

6) Kristin Nunn
7) Meriza DeGuzman
8) Carin Hawkins
9) Amy O’Neil
10) Raechelle Chase
11) Danielle Kifer
12) Allison Jones-williams
13) Terri Turner
14) Sheryln Roy
15) Natalie Waples
16) Jeni Briscoe
16) Andrea Dumon
16) Valerie Gangi
16) Nancy Georges
16) Ann Pratt
16) April Rountree
16) Elvimar Sanchez
16) Alexandra Tothova
16) Karly Woodle

*Qualifies for the 2010 Figure Olympia.