Masters Mens, Fitness and Masters Figure Prejudging Report and Photos
by Allan Donnelly
September 12, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
In what should be a preview of things to come at the top of the order in the open show tomorrow, Toney Freeman and Darrem Charles first butted heads in the Master’s prejudging tonight in the Trump Marina Hotel at the 2008 Atlantic City Pro.
Both the 42-year-old Freeman and the 40-year-old Charles are competing in the Master’s division for the first time. Freeman, coming off consecutive wins last month at the Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships and the Europa Super Show, is looking to continue his recent string of successes. For Charles, the Atlantic City show is his fourth of the 2008 season. He was disappointing at the Houston Pro in early July and at the Tampa and Europa in August, but seems to have regained the form that saw him become one of the IFBB’s most consistent competitors from 1992 to 2007.
In this matchup, Freeman – who condition-wise is slightly better than he was in Tampa, but slightly worse than he was in Dallas – has the edge in size and shape, while Charles, displaying his trademark zippered quads and triceps, has the slight edge in conditioning. In the end though, the gap in conditioning is likely not enough to make up for Freeman’s advantages.
Joel Stubbs appears to have a solid grip on the No. 3 slot, with Pavol Jablonicky and Marcos Chacon battling for fourth and fifth.
FITNESS
Tracey Greenwood, going for her third win of the 2008 season and the eighth of her career, is once again leading the charge. However, she will first have to get past Canada’s Mindi O’Brien, who will give the hometown favorite Greenwood all she can handle here. Bethany Wagner appears to have the inside track for the third spot and an Olympia qualification.
MASTERS FIGURE
Tivisay Briceno, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Figure Olympia at the Europa Super Show, appears to be the in the lead after prejudging. She will be pushed by Juliana Malacarne and Melissa Frabbiele.
