IFBB International Women's Contests

48 Women Compete in Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests:

Oriquen and Kyle seek title in Ms. International Contest

Hendershott top contender in Fitness Contest

Figure Contest attracts 18 shapely women

Columbus, Ohio – Four-time winner Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia and three-time winner Iris Kyle lead a field of 14 women bodybuilders seeking a share of $55,500 in prize money in the 21st Ms. International Contest March 7.  Oriquen won the event in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008.  Kyle won in 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Thirty-four other women, including Central Ohio’s Jen Hendershott and Julie Palmer, also will vie for $99,000 in the Fitness International and Figure International contests.

“The match-up between Yaxeni Oriquen and Iris Kyle will be a great one because both are at the top of their game and finish consistently high in international competition,” says Arnold Sports Festival Co-Producer Jim Lorimer.

Preliminary judging rounds for the three women’s contests will be at noon, March 6 on the stage of the Arnold Fitness EXPO at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  Finals are at 7 pm in Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

The Ms. International competition gives women bodybuilders an opportunity to compete professionally. Nine women have held the title since Schwarzenegger and Lorimer started it in 1989. 

Sixteen Fitness International competitors will be judged in categories of strength, body tone, shape, flexibility, creativity, choreography, athletic competence and performance, Lorimer said.  2005 winner Jennifer Hendershott leads the field. 

During the Figure International competition, 18 women with the world’s fittest, most shapely female physiques will be judged in two rounds of posing, Lorimer said.  The figure contest differs from the fitness event in that it does not judge acrobatic skills and routines. 

A $10 daily ticket to the Arnold Fitness EXPO includes access to the women’s events prejudging and many other competitions and events.  Tickets for the finals are $50 and $75; finals are at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.  Tickets are available at the doors or from Ticketmaster, (614) 431-3600, or at www.ticketmaster.com/arnold.  

2009 Ms. International Competitors
Heather (Policky) Armburst Dayana Cadeau Iris Floyd Kyle Maria Del Carmen Gomez Rosemary Jennings	Debi Laszewski Cathy LeFrancois Mah-Ann Mendoza Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Betty Pariso	Brenda Raganot Isabelle Turell Betty Viana-Adkins Dena Westerfield

 

2009 Fitness International Competitors
Jessica Clay Regiane Da Silva Nicole Duncan Tina Durkin Heidi Fletcher-Sullivan Bethany Gainey	Tracey Greenwood Oksana Grishina Jen Hendershott Tanji Johnson Shannon Meteraud Mindi O’Brien	Julie Palmer Erin Riley Trish Warren Nicole Wilkins-Lee

 

2009 Figure Competitors
Gina Aliotti Huong Arcinas Monica Brant Heather Mae French Amy Fry Adela Garcia	Sonia (Adcock) Gonzales Lenay Hernandez Georgina Lona Juliana Malacarne Zivile Raudoniene Kristal Richardson	Felicia Romero Sherlyn Roy Chastity Slone Brenda Marie Smith Erin Stern Latisha Wilder

 

Arnold Sports Festival National Sponsors:  GNC, All American EFX, Amino Vital, Bodybuilding.com, Champion Nutrition, Gaspari Nutrition, German American Technologies, Gold’s Gym, Jan Tana, MHP, MuscleTech, NetJets, Optimum Nutrition, Star Trac, Supro, Twinlab, Universal Nutrition, and Vitamin Shoppe.

Arnold Fitness EXPO Sponsors: Bodybuilding.com, BodyWell, Bulk Nutrition, EP2, ISS, Labrada Nutrition, MET-Rx, MRI, MRM, NxLabs, Prolab, Proto Whey, SAN, and Triarco Industries.

Arnold Sports Festival Local Sponsors:  3 Point, American Dairy Association Mideast (3-A Day), City Scene Magazine, Columbus Dispatch (Alive), Huntington Banks, Metro Fitness, NetJets, Qfm96, Raisin Rack, Ricart.com, and Time Warner Cable.

 

For more information see our website:  www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

 

Media Contacts:	Matt Lorz	Suzanne Irwin	Brent LaLonde
	Lorz Communications, Inc.	SEI Media Relations	LaLonde Communications
	(614) 443-1877 Phone	(614) 431-2600 Phone	(614) 562-0940 Phone
	mattlorz@rrcol.com	sirwin@arnoldexpo.com	brent1919@gmail.com