Hotlanta!
Florida NPC Figure Athletes Taking The Stage At

The Coastal USA!

SMP has been informed that a large contingent of Florida's top NPC Figure Athletes have chosen the Coastal USA in Atlanta, GA as a 2008 competition destination.  Some notable athletes that are throwing their hat into the ring include:   

The 2007 Florida Figure A Champion Claudia Sofronia (Miami, FL), 2008 NPC Panhandle Overall Champion Gennifer Conn (Pensacola, FL), 2007 Florida Figure D Class Champion and 2008 Pittsburg 3rd place Tall Division Kristen Nagrani (Daytona Beach), 2008 Shannon Dey Classic Overall Champion & 2002 Florida State Overall Figure Champion Kristy Poteat (Orlando, FL), 2008 Shannon Dey Classic Masters Champion & 2008 Kentucky Muscle Masters 3rd place Mary Dent ( Sarasota, FL), 2006 Florida State Masters Champion Michele Meyers (Ormond Beach, FL), 2007 All South Overall Figure Champion & 2007 Jr. USA 2nd Place Fitness athlete Joanne Murphy (Central, FL) and 2007 Florida State Over 30 Champion Kira Rivera.

At the time of this report, over fifteen Figure athletes throughout the State of Florida had confirmed to SMP that they plan to compete in this Georgia Regional National Qualifier promoted by NPC Georgia Chairman Ty Felder (Ropeman).  Keep checking updates at southernmuscleplus.com to see who else decides to mix it up in Hotlanta!

The Battle For The Southern States Title Is Shaping Up!

SMP - The long awaited 2008 NPC Southern States Bodybuilding Championships and the Maria Belando Fitness & Figure Classic Championships is shaping up to be a battle of the South's best NPC athletes.

SMP has confirmed that the Open Bodybuilding Division will be a showdown of the best.  Leading the charge and one of the pre-show favorites is the massive Super Heavyweight and Florida NPC Athlete Ryan Watson.  Reports have been confirmed that Ryan tipped the scales this off season at 300+ pounds and still remained tight and symetrical.

This SMP writer first saw Watson competing at the 2007 Mid Florida Classic and was very impressed.  He was just recently seen at the Tampa Bay Classic and looked to be right on track to peak & be a major threat at this years Southern States.  This bodybuilder has tremendous pro potential.

In the Teenage Division, look for 2008 Open MW Champion Santiago Aragon to introduce himself to the Regional and National Bodybuilding scene in grand fashion.  Santiago, nineteen, and stands a mere 5'5, is a combination of Frank Zane, Lee Labrada and a touch of Dexter Jackson.  Add to this mix, cover model looks, and you can clearly see that this youngster has star potential written all over him.

In the Figure Division, two 2008 SMP Cover Athletes will compete for the coveted title.   Claudia Sofronia, an A Class Bombshell will be taking the stage as well as 2008 Shannon Dey Classic Overall Winner Kristy Poteat.  Look for either of these knockouts to be real threats to earn this years title.

Dont' miss this years exciting event scheduled for July 11 & 12 at War Memorial Auditorioum in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Formore information information
visit www.npcsouthernstates.com

Note: For more picture of some of the athletes listed in this story, visit the Figure Girls Of SMP by clicking the links above.