Erin Stern, the reigning Figure Olympia champ, bounced back from her runner-up finish to Nicole Wilkins at the Figure International last week with a victory at the Australia Pro Figure Classic, held yesterday, March 12. That said, it was a one-point margin over her fellow American Alicia Harris, and I can’t wait to check out the pictures. Alicia, who apparently brought the trimmer body we’d hoped to see at the International, moved up to second from 14th at that show. She must have looked good.
A dozen fair ladies, half of them from Australia, hit the stage in Melbourne. Making a sensational pro debut in third was home girl Darlene Escano, who also spent last weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio—winning the Arnold Amateur Overall Figure title. Welcome to the big leagues, Darlene. We’ll see you, along with Erin and Alicia, at the O next fall.
New Zealand’s Raechelle Chase took the fourth spot in a tie-breaker with Australian’s Ellena Reidie, who had to settle for fifth.
Find the complete results below. Next week the action moves to Aukland, New Zealand for the New Zealand Pro Figure Championship.
Photos
Top: Erin Stern adds a little sass to her presentation in Columbus.
Middle: Was it only a week ago? Darlene Escano, was the Arnold Amateur champ; now she’s taken third in her pro debut.
Bottom: Alicia Harris, a work in progress at the Los Angeles Fitness Expo in January, appears to have blossomed in Melbourne.
’11 Australia Pro Figure Classic
1) Erin Stern
2) Alicia Harris
3) Darlene Escano
4) Raechelle Chase
5) Ellena Reidie
6) Daniela O’Mara
7) Kelli Johnson
8) Sara Picken-Brown
9) Summer Bernard
10) Lisabeth Halikka
11) Jeni Briscoe
12) Kristy Thomson
*Qualifies for the ’11 Figure Olympia.
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