Kristi Tauti captured her first pro victory in style at the IFBB 2009 Sacramento Pro Figure Championships from the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California. Tauti stood out amongst an ultra competitive top five that consisted of last year’s winner, Huong Arcinas, Cheryl Brown, Julie Ann Kulla and Akane Nigro-Ismeal.
“I was really shocked,” Tauti said afterward. “I was confident coming in, but with the callouts, I just wasn’t sure. Two reasons I managed to pull this win out are due to my my biggest fan and husband, Pati, and my trainer, Kim Oddo, who has helped me prep and make the proper changes throughout my career.”
The victory earned Tauti, a three-year pro, entry into the 2010 Figure Olympia. She’ll be joined by the second-place finisher, Brown, and Arcinas, who took third.
“It’s exciting,” Tauti added. “I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym.”
A mere point separated first, second and third with a tie-breaker between third and fourth being awarded to Arcinas, demonstrating just how tight the judging was. Rounding out the top five were Kulla in fourth and Nigro-Ismeal in fifth.
