Jackson looks to be in lead after Arnold prejudging
March 1, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
It was in with old and in with the new at the Arnold Men’s Classic men’s prejudging on Saturday, as both the old guard and the new blood made their case for cracking the top four at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
At the top of the order, the battle between Dexter Jackson and Phil Heath took center stage, as the 39-year-old Jackson – a two-time Arnold Classic winner already – and the 28-year-old Heath went pose for pose in four callouts during the prejudging. And although Heath has made vast improvements – reportedly coming in at 235 pounds, 18 pounds heavier than in 2007 – over the last year, the version of Dexter Jackson that stepped onstage at this Arnold Classic is perhaps the best Dexter we have ever seen. Jackson was his typical striated and shredded self … times two, and the reported five pounds of muscle Jackson put on since the 2007 Olympia had no effect on his conditioning. That combination will likely catapult Jackson into the top spot, and put him in elite company as the third man in the 20-year-history the event to win three Arnold Classics.
Stepping back into the limelight and regaining the form that saw him finish as the runner-up at this contest in 2006, Branch Warren was full, thick, and shredded. Warren had the best legs in the show, feathered and massive, and will likely take home the third spot.
Kai Greene, making his Arnold Classic debut, more than held his own amid the toughest field he has been against to date and will likely grab the four spot in this ultra-competitive lineup. Greene’s hamstrings were etched and hanging, but a film of water in his upper body looks to prevent him from moving up any further in this order.
A spot-on Silvio Samuel came in much sharper than he was at the Ironman Pro two weeks ago and will likely grab the No. 5 spot in the order. It is the second consecutive successful outing for the ultra-conditioned Samuel at this contest, as he will look to add a top-five finish to his sixth-place finish at the event in 2007.
Check back later tonight for final results from the Arnold Classic.
And make sure to check the FLEX Blog. for exclusive prejudging commentary from eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and six-time Arnold Classic runner-up Chris Cormier.
