The expo was packed as it usually is, with vendors from all over having booths. There were the usual supplement companies, apparel companies, media booths, martial arts related booths, and even a Tae Bo booth. The way the prejudging was presented was on the main stage. There was no reserved seating and only a few actual seats (about three rows worth) available on a first come first served basis. This open-air prejudging in the Expo was seen as both a good thing and bad thing depending upon whom you asked.

From the perspective of growing the sport, it was great, as the Expo is focused on martial arts, general health and fitness, cycling, as well as bodybuilding. Therefore it opens up the women's competitions to many who otherwise would not have bought a ticket to a fitness/bodybuilding event. It was evident that there were many first timers in the audience from the reaction of the newbies, but it was good to see the sports being marketed to an extended audience.

New pro Amanda Blank didn't look quite as sharp as when she won her pro card in Atlanta at the 1998 NPC Nationals, but she arguably possesed the best smile on stage. Lisa Dulovic looked great in the first round, but Simons was definitely the one who should have gotten more callouts. Of the top five, it looks like the judges were placing Susie Curry ahead of the pack, with Mary Yockey and Timea Majorova both very close behind and Lena Johnanesen behind that duo. It seems, however, that Johannesen should have been placed higher, and possibly even in first.

After the first round of callouts, the Ms. International pro bodybuilding prejudging began. As the women came out on stage, you could hear gasps from the newbies in the audience as the most muscular women most of them have probably ever seen in person took the stage.

It was good to see Tazzie Colomb and Cathy LeFrancois taking the stage again alongside the other veterans. Iris Kyle, who turned pro at the 1998 NPC USAs made her debut at the show, although she didn't seem to hit her diet right on. The first callout in the symmetry round had Vickie Gates, Yolanda Hughes and Lesa Lewis. Gates looked much more balanced than ever before, while Hughes looked way off form, so it was surprising to see her called out so early. The second callout included Andrulla Blanchette, Gayle Moher and Tazzie Colomb. Those six were definitely looking like the judges top six of the show.

Laura Binetti hit her diet well and was ripped and huge, but Texan Betty Pariso had to be tied for most ripped competitor with Tazzie Colomb. When Colomb hit her back shots, you could see the impressive striations in her glutes. Melissa Coates was also ripped, but her usually impressive arms looked weak, and although her lower body seemed to be getting better, she still didn't get the entire package together on stage at the same time.

Veteran Susan Myers was a shadow of her usual self, looking small, pale and loose. Compared to her usually sharp contest condition, she was a shadow of herself, and her callouts were evidence of that. Recently turned pro Amy Pazzo could have took the stage with more size, but it was her smoother lower body that caused her placement to go down.

Although Moher looked to be in top six so far, her definition and tightness were not up to her usual high standards. Lisa Lewis looked huge on stage as usual. Her back and quads were dominating, but she wasn't quite as hard as some of the others. As the second round of prejudging proceeded, Lewis was visibly sweating much more than the others. However, that may be from the extended number of callouts she was involved in, in the muscularity round. From the callouts, it looked like they may have given the round to Gates early on with the other competitors fighting out the rest of the placings.

As usual, Binetti did well here, although surprisingly, Denise Masino received a good number of callouts, although she didn't appear to be as muscular as some that didn't get the callouts. Masino's back double biceps shots were impressive with her upper back still being an impressive sight. Andrulla Blanchette was not called out until the fifth callout, but then was compared against some of the other top competitors in the round such as Binetti and Lewis. Blanchette's lower body was tight, but some of the others were just harder enough to probably place them higher.

As the bodybuilding prejudging ended, the fitness competitors again took the stage for the Trazer competition, which was carried over from last year. And once again, it must be said that this particular contest may not be the best way to judge fitness, but this time I'll leave it at that...

Trazer closed out the afternoon prejudging. Afterwards (and even during the contest, as most people tired of the lame Trazer round), people began mulling about the entire Expo. As usual there were more than enough fitness models mixed in with the true athletes, and again, the Expo was almost too crowded for comfort. Nothing new of particular note that stood out from the crowd, so that concluded the first half day of the Arnold Classic Weekend.

Lena Johannesen had another solid routine, but her overall energy and performance level was not up to her high standards, unfortunately. When Lisa Lowe did her routine, it was one of the first ones to really get the crowd going. Additionally, she had some Beastie Boys as part of her music, which as you know, is always appreciated. Local Ohio resident Karen Konyha looked to be even more ripped in the evening with distinct definition in her upper body. Her routine was very sassy and helped keep the crowd energized.

Lovena Stamatiou-Tuley had 'woman-themed' music to her routine, which had impressive gymnastics moves. When defending champion Susie Curry took the stage, her routine reminded me of a college-frat-party-drinking-from-the-keg motif. Her energy was high and she gave the crowd another memorable routine, without any singularly memorable moves, but solid throughout.

Amanda Blank performed her same Hot for Teacher routine that helped her win her pro card, and performed it with incredible energy and presence. The only thing missing would be the incorporation of a couple more strength moves. Mary Yockey's routine was probably the best of the night, with the Jan Tana Champ showcasing her incredible balance, strength, agility, and presence. She started off handstand walking across the stage and then stopped, and slowly bent down to a horizontal position with her legs horizontal to the ground. Her gymnastics moves were also the best of the night.

Alexandra Beres did her routine with a hula hoop, the only real prop of the night, which was a nice touch, but perhaps didn't really help her place higher. During one point in the one-piece round in the comparisons, someone in the crowd yelled out to her "Are those real?" referring to her large implants, to which another audience member replied "Real expensive!" - pretty funny...

After the fitness routine round closed, the Ms. International routines were up next, but first there was another martial arts demonstration, but this time it was an 11-year old who was impressive.

Overall, the women's routines were not on par to other shows in the past. Yolanda Hughes' was definitely not as entertaining as previously, and it looked like the champ would have a tough time holding onto her crown, let alone making the top six.

Tazzie Colomb probably had the best routine of the night. Tazzie has great stage presence and attitude that exudes off of her even when she's just walking. She also has a strut that is all her own. Colomb's routine had a James Bond type theme to it and was very sexy and entertaining. She hit her shots with energy and she was still as ripped as in the prejudging.

Although Susan Myers was off-form, her routine was solid as usual and her creative posing was refreshing. Laura Binetti took the stage to jump/swing music, and her routine was more like some of her routines from a few years back. Primarily hitting muscle shots, it was just what most people wanted to see from her.

Top six placers Lisa Lewis and Andrulla Blanchette also had solid routines, but both have had more entertaining routines in the past. Otherwise, Vickie Gates' slow, deliberate and soulful posing routine was probably the only other routine of note. A nice contrast to her size and conditioning, her routine was pulled off very well, to the audience's appreciation.

After seeing the judges scoresheets, you could see that Lena had first place wrapped up until she was bombed on the routine round, although her routine didn't seem to deserve such a low placement. Aside from that, she should have won first place. There were other irregularities, and it seemed to me they were a little too lenient and generous with Debi Stern's ratings. Very surprising was Lisa Dulovic placing last, when she looked to be in the top half of the competition for sure.

Next, the Ms. International top six came out and the most obviously incorrect placement was Tazzie Colomb at 4th. She definitely should have beaten out Yolanda Hughes, and probaly Lesa Lewis. It was the most obvious robbery of the evening, and the crowd voiced it's displeasure with the loudest chorus of boos of the evening. However, Vickie was definitely solid, and a very deserving champion. She was very emotional upon hearing the announcement of 2nd place and had trouble when Arnold came out to present her trophy to her and interview her. Overall, it was a good show and it was nice to have all of the women's competition out of the way on one day.

Last updated 3/13/1999 - 4:50 p.m. PT