With the show being the last big show of the year, there was plenty of competition and new faces as well as veterans competing.

Fitness
As another crop of competitors looking to turn pro took to the Hammerstein stage, it was evident that the sport of fitness continues to draw in competitors, but the level of competition seemed to be leveling off. There were a number of oustanding athletes, but at the high end of the spectrum, the talent was not as high as in past years. That was not to say that the top competitors were not good, but the overall level of competition seemed to be a notch less. That may be because there are so many pro cards given out each year, and at this show, there were six more handed out.

The short class included 18 competitors and there were some good routines, including Heather McCormick, the former University of Georgia gymnast (Editor's Note: On this same night, Georgia lost to Auburn in the South's oldest college football rivalry, 29-26 in Overtime). McCormick was in excellent condition, but was marked down for being so hard. Her routine was one of the best in the class, and her gymnastics background was evident.

The variance in routine quality was pretty wide throughout all the classes, and this was one area where the gap between the top amateurs and the pros was really evident.

Local favorite Alti Bautista was in excellent shape, and had a good routine, although her strength moves were not top of the class. However, the strength moves were tough for many of the competitors, with several not able to hold presses high off the ground or for time. McCormick, Margaret Blanchard, Penny Johnson, Christine Pomponio, Nita Wilson, and Jenny Hanke all did well with respect to that.

Third place finisher, 20 year-old newcomer Mary Kudla, was softer than some of the other competitors as was class winner Caroline Nash, so it was notable that in all the classes, softer women were placing better. This would prove to be true in the other two height classes as well.

Jennifer Cook, who placed 8th had a good, solid routine and Nita Wilson and Caroline Nash performed well too. During the one piece round, it was clear that the judges were going for softer physiques, but Alti Bautista looked tremendous, but didn't do so well in the round. She ended up in 4th to the surprise of many in the crowd.

Overall, it seemed like the judges were looking for a much softer look than in the past, and that hurt McCormick this year, but it didn't help Bautista who wasn't extremely hard, but harder that the women that placed above her.

It was interesting that Hanke and Kudla competed in the short class at the Nationals, but earlier in the year in Vegas for the NPC USAs, they both competed in the medium class. Apparently there was concern about the accuracy of the height chart at the USAs and hopefully that has already been resolved.

In the medium height class, there were 15 competitors, comprising the smallest class, but with plenty of good athletes.

Veteran competitor Stacey Hylton took the class with a good routine, but Fresno, California's Heather Cox improved from her strong 7th place finish at the USAs to take 5th, although she really should have placed even higher.

Cox's routine was very energetic, and was somewhat reminiscent of pro fitness competitor Laura Mak's style. With a few more strength moves incorporated, she should be poised to earn her pro card soon.

In seventh place was Natalee Kan, who had a very lean physique, which may have been one reason why she didn't place higher, with the judges penalizing most of the harder competitors. Her routine had a lot of pop and her tumbling and strength moves were all impressive.

Just ahead of Kan was Tammie Leady who had a high-energy routine that was spot on. Florida's Anna Merchan's evening routine improved upon her solid pre-judging and she used that to place second and earn her pro card. Her routine was one of the best choreographed in the class, and really looked polished.

A very strong looking Terri Mooney placed 11th probably due to the fact that she was so muscular. Her quads and thighs were the biggest on stage, but she looked great, but too muscular for the judges. Her routine was strong and the tumbling moves she incorporated were impressive. If she tones down a tad, she should do well, although she looked very good to this writer.

Dana Maurer had the only significant prop, and gets the amateur Jenny Worth award, although it was just a box she sat on. Overall she looked good, although her presses were not as impressive since she did them on the box, and her legs were not higher that the top of the box. If she was doing them on the floor, her feet might have been touching the floor, which would not have helped her score, but on the box, they were of course off the ground.

In 4th was Sharon Christian who had an energetic routine with the best use of Sir Mix-a-Lot when she translated the lyrics from "Baby Got Back" literally. "... turn around, and stick it out..." - which she did, going into a moon like pose and looking through her legs underneath.

Other notables in the class who will deserve a look in future competitions include Alisha Teel, Donna Poggio, and Cara Volpicelli. Teel took last, but was very strong and needs to lean down some. If she comes in harder, and has more confidence on stage, she should do much better.

Poggio has competed at the National level before and with continued improvements should be in the top half of the placings. Volpicelli looked good, and with some added flexibility, she should rise up the amateur ranks.

The largest class in terms of size and competitors was the tall class which had 21 competitors, but in the end it was perenially 3rd place finisher Beth Horn finally gaining her pro card and taking the overall as well.

The tall class top five were all very good, although an argument could be made for switching around the order of the top five in a variety of ways.

In 5th place was Amy Haddad who had a very impressive routine (even though she used Cher music). Haddad is very strong, and her stage presence and transitions between moves was excellent. Look for Haddad to earn her pro card soon.

Tracey Greenwood took 4th and performed her routine with footwear this time around. Her prejudging routine had a few stumbles, but she more than made up for it during the evening finals where she nailed every move to make the top five. As usual Greenwood was very strong and her streamlined physique was an improvement that the judges rewarded.

Just ahead of Greenwood was Jenny Lynn who also was quite strong during the routine round. Second place finisher was Gina Tomaseski, a mother of two who had her kids cheering for her in the audience.

Tomaseski had a very tight physique, great stage presence, and some of the best tumbling moves in the class. After the 3rd place finisher was announced, Tomaseski's kids responded to the fact that their mom was a pro athlete by saying "Mommy gets lots of money!"

Allyson Mehta looked strong again, but because of her ripped conditioning, was marked down. She has great moves in the routine round, and with a little softer body next time around, she should place higher.

Carrie Fickle continued her busy competition year with a 6th place finish and the same solid routine she had been using at previous shows to replicate her 6th place finish at the USAs.

A few of the other competitors to monitor include Sara J. Waide, Ingrid Mayer, Carla Walburn, Jill Holland, Marlene Harden, and Kendra Manson. Waid's routine was decent and showcased her strength, while Mayer stumbled a few times during her routine, but it was otherwise good overall.

Walburn's routine showcased some good tumbling moves which she can build upon and Holland is one of the more charismatic competitors on stage, with sparkling eyes, and impressive calves. Harden needs to work on how she stands during the callouts, and with that improvement, will see her rankings go up, and Manson will only improve with more time in the gym.

The lightweights took the stage first, and the first competitor to come out was Danet Seely who was in the best shape of her life. Her overall package was very nice, but with the seasoned competitors she was up against, could only place a lower-than-deserved 10th.

The two most entertaining competitors were Elena Seiple-Perticari and Mona Caravetta, who are friends and prepared for the show together. Caravetta was in amazing shape, but perhaps too lean for the judges, as her 3rd place finish would indicate. Seiple-Perticari improved an amazing amount over last year, and had the most impressive muscularity of the class. While Caravetta might have been too lean, Seiple-Perticari was spot on.

However, it was Jennifer Lupi who ended up taking the class. Lupi had the best quads of the class and a very strong back as well, but to the dismay of many in the crowd, she took the top spot and accompanying pro card.

Seiple-Perticari took 2nd place and took it in stride as she was shooting for top ten going into the show. A welcome response from the usual angry tirades from many competitors who don't win, and an example for others in sportsmanship (or sportswomanship).

 
Seiple-Perticari should do well in her next show, only needing to widen out her lats some to get a better taper, while Caravetta may need to be a little less ripped.

Deborah Barnes-Dorris continued to plug away, and has a tremendous thick physique. Her routine during the evening show was good, and she continues to improve each time out, although her rankings may not always reflect it.

Veteran Trish Hamashin looked good, but her overall package always seems to be missing something, and with the tough competition in the class, she managed to get 6th place. Stacy DeFalco has a nice back to build off of, and Annette Costa needs to fill out her frame to place better at the national level.

The posedown for the lightweight class was quite entertaining with Caravetta and Seiple-Perticari showing their friendly competitiveness by going head-to-head in a most muscular pose that the crowd appreciated.

The middleweights were the least controversial of the classes, although an argument could have justifiably been made to give any of the top four the title and pro card for the class.

Eventually, it was Texan Kim Harris who edged out Mah-Ann Mendoza to keep Mendoza on the fringe of gaining her pro card once again. Harris looked good, but Lisa Winston arguably had the better overall aesthetics and lines. When Winston was flexing, she is tough to beat, but the judges chose to send Harris to the pro ranks this time around.

Harris had the deepest abs of the group, while Mendoza came in as she usually does, sharp overall, but no individual outstanding bodyparts. As one of the new Ms. Olympias remarked, Winston has the look that they were looking for at the Ms. Olympia this year (2000) and should have been rewarded with the class.

Outside those top three was the steadily improving Beth Roberts. She was lean, and her physique's only weak spot was her taper which she may have some trouble improving on, since it appears that part of it is genetics. Her quads were among the best on stage, though, and during the routine round, showed fluid movements and an entertaining routine - two things that would also be welcome on the pro stage.

A local fan favorite was Rosemary Jennings who only placed 12th probably due to her amazing muscularity. She was like a fireplug and perhaps the most muscular woman in the class. It was quite a dramatic difference from the competitor who stood next to her, New York's Collette Nelson. It was Nelson's first national show, but look for more from her, after her very respectable 6th place finish.

Fifth place finisher Lisa Aukland, competing at 40 years young, look good overall and selected some good posing music during her routine. The Team Universe veteran will have trouble overtaking any of the women that placed ahead of her, but is a definite national level contender.

Outside the top six were Maribeth Rossi, Lora Maddox, and Wynne Hendry. Rossi's upper body was very impressive, but overpowered her lower body, so with that improvement, she should make top five next time around. Maddox, on the other hand had awesome quads and good thickness throughout, but needs to polish up her upper body. From the Pacific Northwest, Hendry looked good, and has one of the more aesthetic physiques on stage. Filling out her physique and coming in a little sharper should definitely let Hendry compete for her pro card.

Kerry Quinn followed those three in 10th place, but her blockiness still prevents her from placing higher. In good shape bodyfat-wise, it was just her aesthetics that hold her back. Sondra Faas was told she was too hard earlier in the year and toned it down to come in much softer, but she only ended up in 15th place.

Jill M. Livoti had soft legs that had decent size, but she needs to trim down her waist or widen her lats to get a better taper in order to place higher. Newcomer Lore Shimamura had tremendous legs with great definition, but they totally overpowered the rest of her physique. By bringing up her upper body, she should look much more balanced and the judges should reward her with a higher placing.

Dana Capobianco also looked good, but unbalanced, with tremendous shoulders and arms, but in the opposite way of Shimamura, needs to bring up her legs. Nice aesthetics carried Kim Schuler Neal to 11th place, but filling out her frame and coming in tighter should take her into the top ten easily.

The posedown in this very competitive class did not live up to what was expected and it was quite tame. The music was pitiful though, and did little to inspire the athletes to bring out the best. When Winston was announced third, a chorus of boos could be heard from a vocal minority. After all, it wouldn't have been a bodybuilding show without any.

The last class was the heavyweights with 17 competitors taking the stage and many familiar faces mixed in with a few new ones.

Veteran national level competitor Michelle Ivers couldn't make it down to her usual middleweight class and competed in the heavyweights. She looked lean, and hard, and had improved her already awesome physique again this year. The same was the case for Alabama's Renee O'Neill who also looked tremendous, and coming off of her second place finish last year, had to be one of the favorites. Stacy Garonzik also competed in the heavies and her more balanced physique took her to a 7th place finish, just behind Ivers, while O'Neill dropped to a devastating 11th. It could be argued that all three were also in some of the best shapes of their competitive careers.

However, for all three veteran competitors, it was not to be, as when the first callouts were made, it was evident that the judges were looking at Lora Ottenad, Heather Foster, Sheliah Browne, Jayne Trcka, and newcomer Silvia Cowen. Cowen was a local favorite, but didn't seem to belong at the same level of the other competitors.

Fifth place finisher Trcka looked great, and was in very good shape and had an impressive routine doing a backflip from a standing position. The stage thumped when she landed, which sounded uncharacteristic since all the other flips that were done on stage were with the sub-130 lb. fitness competitors, and not a thick and muscular bodybuilder.

Robin Parker, usually known for her razor sharp conditioning came in much smoother than usual, due in all likelihood to the new judging criteria. The same could be said for Californian Carla Haug, and even Sheliah Browne.

Fran Ferraro had a splotchy tan that detracted from her phsique, but was in her usual big and hard condition, and ended up in 10th place. Monica Auvenshine had good lines and looked good overall but was simply outclassed by some of the more established athletes, while Maya Stone can build off of her impressive back to improve her placement in subsequent shows.

The posedown for the heavyweights was one of the most entertaining posedowns in a long time, with Foster, Trcka and Ottenad all playfully pushing each other out of the way, and even getting to the point of picking each other up to place behind them so that one of the competitors could be at the forefront of the stage. It was an ironic twist, compared to what would happen just minutes later when the final results were read.

From the looks of the prejudging though, it was almost a consensus that Ottenad was going to take the class, so when the final results were read out and Ottenad was announced in 2nd, the audience erupted with boos of displeasure.

Ottenad stormed off the stage after the photographs, and Sheliah Browne tried to catch up to her to give her the trophy she left on stage, but to no avail. A camera crew surrounded the heavyweight top five quickly, but as Ottenad was leaving, she was visibly angered, and many in the crowd were equally dumbfounded.

That is not to say that Foster was not a deserving champion though. Foster looked better during the evening show, and has a tremendous physique that will represent her well at the pro ranks. However, many in the crowd felt that a fix was in, to give the local New Yorker the title while the show was held in the Big Apple.

Unfortunately, many will remember only the final results of the class and the judging, and not the level of the competition.