A year ago, Kai Greene flew into the New York Pro under the radar before using his sixth-place finish at the contest as a launching pad to bigger and better things. On Saturday night, Greene used the 2008 version of the New York Pro as a platform to confirm his status as one of the best bodybuilders in the world.
From the moment he stepped onstage for this morning’s prejudging at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, it was clear that, in this contest, there was Kai Greene and everyone else, as Greene cruised to the second pro win of his career in his hometown of New York City.
The same could not be said for the inaugural 202-pound class, where Kevin English upset precontest favorite David Henry in an ultra-competitive top five.
In women’s bodybuilding, Cathy LeFrancois completed her long road back by winning her first contest since her victory in the lightweight class at the Ms. International in 2003. LeFrancois, who switched to figure competitions for two years from after that win before returning to the bodybuilding stage in 2006, broke her foot two weeks before the contest but still managed to notch the second professional win of her career.
While Greene was the clear winner on the men’s side, the battle for second through fifth was hotly contested. In the end, Kevin English followed up his win in the 202-pound class with a runner-up finish in the men’s open, while Ronny Rockel (third), David Henry (fourth) and Craig Richardson (fifth) rounded out the rest of the top five.
