For the second year in a row, this sleepy Southern town welcomed some of the best physique athletes around, and the competition was tough in all of the competitions. The fitness athletes started things off, and once again, it was Kelly Ryan out to defend her title from the always hard charging Jenny Hendershott.

The callouts in the first round were a bit surprising since the judges called out virtually every athlete in the top half of the competition against each other. Alti Bautista's physique seemed the most improved, and her relationship with Ronnie Coleman must be helping out as she looked very impressive. However, fellow new pro Natalie Carroll did not look like she had a pro caliber physique especially when compared against the other competitors.

Tanji Johnson also looked very good but Bethany Howlett looked very off. One of the more overlooked competitors that looked fantastic in the one-piece round was Aymara Munoz. As the last competitor and standing on the far end of the lineup, it was hard for her to get the callouts, but her physique has good potential.

The routines round didn't have too many surprises except for the unfortunate injury that Laura Mak sustained, resulting in her widthdrawal from the rest of the competition. Of course it was no surprise to see Jenny Hendershott out there first to help out Mak. Hendershott is a true professional and although the judges placed her in 4th, she still maintained a great attitude, and was the first to congratulate Ryan on her victory.

In the women's bodybuilding there were many international competitors that hadn't competed much, if any in the states before. The lightweight class was clearly Fannie Barrios' to lose, as she had the most complete package with great conditioning and hardness throughout. Sophie Duquette continues to improve and her aesthetic lines and symmetry continue to be her strengths. While she looked very very good, she just couldn't match Barrios' muscularity.

Marja Lehtonen came in dialed down a little from last year's physique and again placed third. While she was not as shredded, she still looked very impressive, with the best biceps on the entire stage. Look for Lehtonen to tighten up and be a strong contender for the class. Following Lehtonen was Mary Ellen Doss making her pro debut. While not quite as hard as she was when she won the 2001 NPC Nationals, she held her own as a new pro.

Germany's Heike Jung looked very tight and was ripped. With a more aesthetic look this year than in the past, she made significant improvements, but the quality at the pro level is such that you have to do more than that. Her structure is not as well suited to taking a top spot, and it will continue to plague her in the pro ranks.

The middleweights includedd the most impressive return to competition of Nancy Lewis. Formerly a heavyweight when she last competed in the 90's, Lewis tightened up and toned down, but came in with an amazing package with tight cuts, awesome symmetry and the best lines of the competition.

Easily taking the class, and subsequently the overall title, Lewis was unsure about competing in the Olympia but did decide to do the sport's most prestigous competition which should have all of her fans excited. In second was Vilma Caez, who edged out Gayle Moher. Moher looked very tight, but Caez was more conditioned. However, Caez's symmetry and lines didn't look quite as nice on stage as Moher's. Mah Ann Mendoza presented her usual balanced and symmetrical package, but just wasn't hard enough, while new pro Rosemary Jennings had another respectable pro debut just two weeks following her 2002 NPC USA overall win. Myriam Bustamante rounded out the class, which was definitely very tight thoughout.

The heavyweights had the most controversy probably of all the classes and was also the biggest class with ten competitors including Anja Timmer, who was the heaviest competitor at 174 lbs.

However, it was new IFBB Pro Beth Roberts who surprised many by taking the class in her debut competition. Roberts' balanced physique and solid conditioning edged out strong contenders like Betty Pariso, Heather Foster and Tazzie Colomb.

Pariso was upset with the final result, but the judges seemed to reward the more aesthetic package that Roberts presented over the more hard core muscularity. Paula Suzuki was one of the thickest competitors having added even more size and thickness throughout. From the back, Suzuki's poses were impressive.

Colomb looked tight as did Pariso, and both were very close in the final tally, while Foster placed fourth. Italian Antonella Grilli also looked very impressive with a very wide v-taper and some of the wider lats on stage. She was happy with her improved placement and should again be a top competitor in the class in her subsequent competitions.

Following Grilli was Norweigian Merete Horness who had a more streamlined physique, while Australian Christine Envall looked big and thick as usual. However, she was not quite as hard, but still had the crowd very pleased with her ab rolls and most muscular poses.

Anja Timmer and Charlotte Key wrapped up the class. Timmer made her debut at the Jan Tana while Key made her debut under than name, although she had previously competed as Carmella Cureton.

The fitness show was close, with only two competitors in the short class, but with both second place Amy Seaver and winner Ashley King both presenting nice physiques and solid routines. The tall class was won by Yvette Vega who always comes in hard and striated. She was followed closely by Debra Dunn, and both had recently done the USAs as well.

Tracy Martin took third while Rochelle Markham rounded out the class. Markham has a nice look and if she can come in with a bit more muscle and cuts, will definitely improve.

Figure was the biggest competition and the short class was won by another former USA competitor, April Stubbs-Smith. She edged out Maria Elena Veron and Aida Aragon, both of whom looked very good, and pushed the national level competitor for the class title. Crystal Patrick took fourth while Pamela Willis followed and Jean Caldwell placed sixth in her competitive debut.

The tall class was won by Grace Rivera who looked very impressive. She beat out Christina Forlifer and Marsha Mosz, who both looked very balanced and tight. Alejandra Abdala had the most muscular physique of the class with a tiny waist and flaring upper body, that resulted in a very nice V, but was deemed too muscular for the judges. The same was the case for Letita Brooks who had the thickest back of the group. She was followed by Heather Brown who rounded out the top five for the class.

In all, a good crop of amateurs, but many of whom had competed at national level shows the last two weeks or so.