Unheralded Super-Heavyweight Cedric McMillan wows at the ’09 Nationals
November 21, 2009
By Team Flex
FLEXONLINE.COM
With little fanfare but a lot of muscle, Cedric McMillan leapfrogged over a host of better known and more venerated competitors to capture overall honors at the 2009 NPC Nationals tonight, here in beautiful Hollywood, Florida.
Packing 255 pounds of seriously striated muscle stretched across an impressive frame, the South Carolinian was a clear winner in both the Super-Heavyweight class, where he garnered straight firsts, and in the overall posedown. Coming out of one of the deepest SH classes in recent years, McMillan looks to have the potential to do some damage in the pro ranks within the next few years.
Winning the Heavyweight class was New Jersey’s Jeff Long, who presented his best look to date. Thick from traps to calves, he also showed enough detail to edge out the equally excellent Lee Banks. Banks hit the nail on the head tonight, coming in as sharp as he was at yesterday’s prejudging. In the end, slightly undersized legs may have kept him from taking home first place and the pro card that went with it.
It was a happy birthday indeed for Pennsylvanian Seth Feroce, who turned 25 this evening. It could be argued that behind the highly impressive McMillan, Feroce brought the best physique of the evening to bear. Like McMillan, Feroce scored straight firsts with the judging panel.
Washington’s Nathan DeTracy was an equally clear winner in the Middleweight class. The 2008 NPC USA’s Middleweight champ improved over his previous best form to present a physique that was showed precious few flaws. Thanks to his excellent proportions, DeTracy promises to be a solid contender in the IFBB 202 Division when he chooses to jump into deeper waters.
Shavis Higa finally made good on the enormous promise he’s shown for the better part of the past decade by earning pro status with a win in the Welterweight class here. Although his conditioning wasn’t the best we’ve seen from him, his shape is stellar. He can be a 202 contender once he matches his conditioning with his form.
In the Lightweight class, Texan Joe Vu edged Puerto Rico’s Luis Santiago. Vu, a chiropractor, had the best legs of the class while Santiago had the thickest torso. In the end it was a close call that went the 38-year-old Vu’s way.
Bleu Taylor took the Bantamweight class with an excellent taper, good conditioning and overall muscularity that was hard to ignore. The 140-pound disciple of Hany Rambod is eager to prove his worth in the pro’s ASAP and will bring a lot of personality to the 202 Division with him.
Congratulations to all of the 500-some-odd competitors who traveled to Hollywood, Florida this weekend, and especially to our class winners and 2009 NPC National Championships overall champ Cedric McMillan.
