It was a busy night in Florida on Saturday as six winners were crowned at the inaugural IFBB Valenti Gold Cup in Sarasota. Erin Stern, Eduardo Correa, Yeshaira Robles, Myriam Capes, Sadik Hadzovik and Karina Nascimento all won their respective divisions.
Go here for results and galleries!
Stern, one of the top two competitors in the world and the 2010 Figure Olympia Champion, was the overwhelming precontest favorite and left little doubt that she was the unquestioned winner her. Next up is showdown with two-time Figure Olympia winner Nicole Wilkins in Las Vegas.
Rookie Kamla Macko placed second while Aleisha Hart and Andrea Cantone – two competitors fighting for spots in the top five of the Olympia Qualification Series – placed third and fourth, respectively. Each now have seven points in the standings and will have to wait for results from the Tournament of Champions to see if they did enough to qualify.
Correa elected to compete in the Open division to start the year and make his 212 debut in Florida – leaving himself little room for error in his bid for a 212 Showdown qualification. But, in a win-or-stay-home scenario, Correa came through, displaying razor-sharp condition on top of a densely-muscled physique to easily outdistance the rest of the field. Correa, who has finished third at each of the past two 212 Showdowns, will enter as a top-three contender once again.
Perhaps the most stunning development to date in the Olympia Qualification Series Standings was Raul Carrasco Jiminez bumping Sami Al Haddad out of the 212 Showdown with his second-place finish. Haddad, the 2011 Amateur Olympia winner, earned five points in the OQS Standings but elected not to compete again before the 212 Showdown. He missed out on a qualification by one point, finishing 6th in the OQS standings.
Charles Dixon placed third while Brandon Ray and Benjamin Nunoz rounded out the top five.
In Fitness, Myriam Capes edged out Camala Rodriguez to win for the first time in her career. Capes, a perennial top-five Olympia with 12 top-five finishes in her career, placed second in the physique round but handily won the routine round to earn the come-from-behind win.
In Bikini, Yeshaira Robles notched career win No. 1 after a few close calls to begin the season. Robles, a first-year pro who won her pro card at the last year’s NPC Team Universe, started the season with three consecutive third-place finishes.
Rookie Lacey DeLuca placed second in her professional debut, while Marcela Tribin finished third to move into a four-way tie for third in the OQS Standings.
Karina Nascimento became the latest Women’s Physique competitor with two professional wins on her resume. Nascimento made history by winning the first-ever WPD contest with her victor at the Phoenix Pro in February. Frances Mendez (2nd) and Nekole Hamrik (3rd) rounded out the top three.
Sadik Hadzovik, who earned his pro card by winning the Overall at the Junior Nationals in June, continued his string of impressive outings in the Men’s Physique division with the first win of his career. The NPC Athlete of the Month for the Month of June in his division, Hadzovik now has a win and two second-place finishes in his three pro outings.
Michael Anderson placed second while William Sullivan placed third.
Go here to see all the contest photos from the Valenti Gold Cup!
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