2001 EXtravaganza Report
2001 Women's Extravaganza - August 25, 2001 - Secaucus, NJ, USA - genex9.com
2001 Women's Extravaganza
by gene x hwang - August 2001
Secaucus, NJ - Once again, the final Olympia qualifier of the year was the Women's Extravaganza that provided a chance for three more pros to qualify. The fitness and bodybuilding strength shows were again held and for the NPC amateur shows, this year included the introduction of the figure competition.
Moved to the Sheraton Medowlands for it's 2001 edition, there were quite a few new faces and impressive amateurs as well as an enjoyable mix of amateur and pro athletes competing in the other events held during the weekend. One of the most impressive new faces and physiques had to belong to amateur figure and bodybuilding competitor Christine Roth (at right). From Toronto, she could be one of the more marketable personalities to take the stage recently, and there was certainly a buzz about her.
The strength show kicked off the 2001 Extravaganza with two fitness athletes competing to take the title from two-time defending champion Cynthia Bridges, who was going for an unprecendented three-peat. Shooting to take her down were 21-year old University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI) pole vaulter Shanna Martin, and last years' runner up, Lindsay Mulinazzi.
The straddle press was up first, with Mulinazzi slipping and taking third, while Bridges cruised to another victory after Martin went down. Always a strong event for Bridges, it was a harbinger of what was to come.
The bodybuilding strength show was up next, and as emcee John Parillo reapeatedly and annoyingly reminded the crowd, the heaviest competitor was Tazzie Colomb who came in at about 185 lbs. Co-hosting the show was strength show alum and former American Gladiator, Raye Hollitt, who looked to be in excellent shape and was looking as good as ever.
Hollitt handled the mic well, scolding the often confused Parillo and threatening to "kick his ass" to the delight of the audience (and press). Unfortunately, she restrained, but her presence was wholely appreciated.
The row competition got things started and first up was Danet Seely who was the lightest competitor, but she pulled a muscle and wasn't able to finish the event or any further events. Tazzie Colomb ended up taking the first round, able to do more rows (15) with 75% of her bodyweight than any others.
In the fitness side of things, Mulinazzi took the curls competition, but in the end, it was Bridges who ended up edging Mulinazzi, with both competitors collapsing on the 31st rep of the one-arm pushups, causing them to tie in that event. Due to the third place finish Mulinazzi had on the straddle press, Bridges was able to complete her three-peat.
On the bodybuilding side, it was shaping up to be a close battle after Sue Scheppele (160 lbs.) took the bench competition and Nursel Gurler (172 lbs.) and Annie Rivieccio (165 lbs.) tied for first in the curls competition. The final event shaped up to be the deciding one. Squats with 1½x bodyweight were a brutal finishing event. Scheppele's intense and exhaustive lifting claimed her the title at 30 reps, winning the overall title as well as two individual lifting events, which pocketed her nearly $2,000 in winnings.
In the amateur figure show, Jan Tana figure overall champion Mimi Bowman again took the short class and overall titles. Vivianna Requena placed second while Karen Zaremba was in third. Returning competitor Natalie Proud was in fourth, but the impressive Trina Nuñez was in fifth, although she had amazing calves and nice shape and muscularity throughout. It looked like the more muscular competitors would be penalized. Linda Cho rounded out the top six. |
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In the medium height class, Dana Ventetuolo won the class. The very lean Susan Stivalo finished in second, and had impressive flexed and relaxed abs, while the exotic looking Simone Moura was in third. Vicki Burdewick was in fourth followed by Shanna Martin who was also doing the figure event. In sixth was the nicely shaped Jan Tana tall class winner Tiffany Kilo and Carla Holmes was in seventh.
In the tall class was Roth, who immediately took over the stage. Her presence is powerful and it was hard not to focus on her. Of course, as a bodybuilder, her physique was also one of the most developed, and in the end the judges did not reward her impressive, balanced physique placing her in fourth. Gamble Byron, a much smoother competitor took the class, followed by 43-year old firefighter Marlene Harden. Debbie Auer was in third, and Jalena Jojovich was in fifth, followed by the incredible looking 31-year old mother of four, Denise Lanas.
In the amateur bodybuilding competition there were three women in the lightweight class which was won by Laurie Epidy, who had nice back and delts, closely followed by Melina Bell, who's abs and biceps looked strong and tight. Rounding out the class was Lois Colon.
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Check out the official backstage video produced exclusively by FTVideo. Also coming from FTVideo are videos on competitor Marja Lehtonen among others...
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The middleweight judging was confusing with the slightest competitor, Rebecca Seyfert taking the class. Seyfert did not appear to have much muscle maturity or size, and was also not as lean as any of the other competitors. Second place Annalise Baluk decided not to smile, but had a much more full physique although her implants were a bit overpowering and distracted from her muscularity. Donna Livingston, who had the most vociferous fans, took third, although she too had a better physique which was a bit unbalanced, but had more size.
The heavyweights saw the return of Roth to the stage, and again she stood out. However, the very impressive Karina Nascimento was hard to deny as she took the class, and appropriately the overall title as well. Nascimento was tight throughout, and her incredible leg conditioning edged out Roth, who was tight and full as well. Jennifer Doxey took third, followed by Christine Fetzer, who appeared not to have dieted as much as some of the others, but looked happy to be competing. She performs well on stage, and has good presence, so if she comes in tighter, she should definitely place higher in future competitions.
The final contest was the pro bodybuilding with three weight classes offering three invitations to the Ms. Olympia. The lightweight class (under 130 lbs.) was sparse with only Gayle Moher and Mary Ellen Jerumbo competing. Moher's structure and balance edged out Jerumbo but Moher seemed a bit distant during her time on stage, while Jerumbo was her usual bundle of energy.
The middleweights (130 to 140 lbs.) was more hotly contested with new pro Kim Harris taking on Marja Lehtonen, Vilma Caez, and Miriam Bustamonte. Lehtonen, the crowd favorite, and most complete bodybuilder's bodybuilder on stage, looked huge from her sweeping quads to her world class biceps, and it was hard to say that she did not deserve to win. Harris was tight and much more compact, and looked much sleeker but the judges awarded her physique with the class. Caez was cut, but a tad blocky and the elegant Bustamonte was a tad smooth, but structurally fairly sound.
The heavyweights was the largest class, and from the start it looked as if it was going to be a close one between Heather Foster, Betty Pariso and Yaxeni Oriquen. Amy Pazzo and Sharon Robelle also were in the top five, but just slightly under the level of the top three. In this show, it was hard to say who was a hands-down winner, with each competitor having some advantage to each other, but at the same time showing weakenesses as well. In the end, it was the exuberant Heather Foster who took the class as well as the overall with an impressive posing routine, and possible the best attitude and positive presence on stage.
Oriquen looked melancholy and distant, although she is always very serious when preparing for and during shows, while Pariso seemed tired, which is completely understandable for many of the athletes who had done the Jan Tana several weeks ago and maintained their diets through the Extravaganza. Pazzo was a bit off, not looking as sharp as usual, and was a bit upset with her conditioning. She continues to improve and should place in the top five consistently. Robelle has a nicely put together physique with an impressive back, but the heavyweight class competition is always so intense.
Christine Envall did not look as full as at the Jan Tana and took sixth, while Norway's Merete Horness and Canada's Donna Logue rounded out the class. The posedown in the heavyweight class was one of the most entertaining in a long time, with the top five all vying for stage space right in front of the judges going to the extent of pushing, shoving and playfully grabbing each other for the best real estate. It also lasted quite a while, and the competitors looked pumped and energized as the placings were announced, with Foster taking the class edging Oriquen.
In the end, as another Extravaganza was put in the books, it seemed like the overall atmosphere was a tad less dynamic than usual. There seemed to be a cloud of aloofness in the air and an unsure feeling. However, the competition continues to provide a unique competitive experience for both the audience as well as the competitors.
Results:
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IFBB Pro Bodybuilding
Overall: Heather Foster*
Lightweights
1) Gayle Moher*
2) Mary Ellen Jerumbo
Middleweights
1) Kim Harris*
2) Marja Lehtonen
3) Vilma Caez
4) Miriam Bustamante
Heavyweights
1) Heather Foster*
2) Yaxeni Oriquen
3) Betty Pariso
4) Amy Pazzo
5) Sharon Robelle
* qualified for Ms. Olympia
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Strength Shows
Fitness
1) Cynthia Bridges (3-peat!)
2) Lindsay Mulinazzi
3) Shana Martin
Bodybuilding
1) Sue Scheppele
2) Annie Rivieccio
3) Tazzie Colomb
4) Nursel Gurler
5) Stacy Garonzik
6) Julie Scanlon
7) Yaxeni Oriquen (did not compete in squat event)
8) Danet Seely (widthdrew due to injury)
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NPC Bodybuilding
Overall: Karina Nascimento
Lightweights
1) Laurie Epidy
2) Melina Bell
3) Lois Colon
Middleweights
1) Revecca Seyfert
2) Annalise Baluk
3) Donna Livingston
Heavyweights
1) Karina Nascimento
2) Christine Roth
3) Jennifer Doxey
4) Christine Fetzer
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NPC Figure
Overall: Mimi Bowman
Short Class
1) Mimi Bowman
2) Vivianna Requenna
3) Karen Zaremba
4) Natalie Proud
5) Trina Nunez
6) Linda Cho
Medium Class
1) Dana Ventetuolo
2) Susan Stivalo
3) Simone Moura
4) Vicki Burdewick
5) Shanna Martin
6) Tiffany Kiro
7) Carla Holmes
Tall Class
1) Gamble Byron
2) Marlene Harden
3) Debbie Auer
4) Christine Roth
5) Jalena Jojovich
6) Denise Lanas
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Send comments, critiques, inquiries, etc. to genex@genex9.com
© 2001 gene x hwang All Rights Reserved - Last updated 10/29/2001 - 2:06 p.m. PT (-08:00 GMT)
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