This weekend 15 IFBB Figure pros will take the stage at Jon Lindsay’s Tournament of Champions. This is the last chance for the women to qualify for the Figure Olympia held later this month in Las Vegas. Prejudging begins at 11am California time and finals will kick off at 6:30pm. Check out the competitor list and the Hardbody 411 on who will likely be your leading ladies.
HARDBODY 411
This is a very competitive line up and one that will help determine who gains enough points for the Olympia in the new qualification series and who is left on the outside looking in. The odds-on favorite has to be Teresa Anthony given her recent showings and the improvements she’s made the last couple years. The only way she doesn’t win this show is if she comes in stringy and not full like we’ve seen her in the past. I don’t see that happening. Who is the biggest threat to her for the win? Some would say Allison Frahn given she is the point series leader and that she has faired well in the past at California shows. She was the runner-up at the California Pro and was third at the Governor’s Cup earlier this year. There are two rookies to keep an eye on who I think will shake things up in this line-up. Francine Sablan will be making her pro debut after taking top honors at the NPC USAs in July. She was head and shoulders above the rest at USAs and has the potential to win it all here. Also keep your eye on Mallory Haldeman. Mallory will make the drive from Las Vegas and has the first time jitters out of the way. She finished in second at the Tampa Pro, her pro debut. If she can stay relaxed and hit her poses better she’ll be in the hunt. Her own weak area right now is her back but it shouldn’t hold her back from being in the mix.
Others to watch… Larissa Reis is in the hunt for an Olympia qualification if she snags enough points here. I don’t see her physique matching up as well with this line up as it did at the Dallas Europa. Felicia has the “name” as she’s been at the top of the Figure charts for years, unfortunately I think we’ve seen the best of Felicia already. I could be wrong but she would have to completely transform herself from what we saw in Dallas to be in the hunt here. Kim Sheppard is in the mix for points and has been consistent with her conditioning. She’ll have a tough time breaking into the top three here but if she could finish in the top five it would be a great showing for her. Natalie Waples is also in the hunt for points and is coming off a second place finish in Chicago. Her placings have been sporadic and she could be a contender or on the outside of the top five looking in.
2012 IFBB Tournament of Champions Pro Figure
1. Teresa Anthony (Glen Burnie, Maryland)
2. Melanie Burger (Pleasonton, California)
3. Deborah Denio (Culver City, California)
4. Allison Frahn (Mahway, New Jersey)
5. Mallory Halderman (Las Vegas, Nevada)
6. Erin Harding (British Columbia, Canada)
7. Michelle Krack (British Columbia, Canada)
8. Michele Mayberry (Federal Way, Washington)
9. Olga Maria Morales (Mexico City, Mexico)
10. Larissa Reis (Brazil)
11. Felicia Romero (Chandler, Arizona)
12. Francine Sablan (San Diego, California)
13. Kimberly Sheppard (Katy, Texas)
14. Katerina Tarbox (Warwick, Rhode Island)
15. Natalie Waples (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Ron “The YOGI” Avidan’s Top 5 Picks:
1) Teresa Anthony
2) Francine Sablan
3) Allison Frahn
4) Mallory Haldeman
5) Larissa Reis
Isaac’s Top 5 Picks:
1. Teresa Anthony
2. Mallory Haldeman
3. Francine Sablan
4. Allison Frahn
5. Kimberly Sheppard
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