Ward-El Wins Big in Vegas; Alves Finally Nabs Pro Card as Well

Reported on July 29, 2002

’02 NPC USA Men’s Bodybuilding Championships

Ward-El Wins Big in Vegas; Alves Finally Nabs Pro Card as Well
LAS VEGAS—Idrise Ward-El carried 254 pounds of defined, well-balanced muscle on his 5’11” frame to take the Superheavyweight class and the Overall at the ’02 NPC USA Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, held July 26–27 at the Artemus W Ham Hall on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The 36-year-old Ward-El captured the ’01 California Championships before finishing fourth in the Superheavyweights at last season’s USA, a class that was won by Overall champion Quincy Taylor. Ward-El, out of Palm Desert, California, took his class unanimously, then bested Heavyweight champ Troy Alves, Light Heavyweight winner Kris Dim, Middleweight titlist Stan McQuay, Lightweight victor Eryk Bui and Bantamweight champ Clifton Torres to capture the Overall crown.

Alves, who’d finished second in his class at this contest for the past two years, as well as at the ’00 Nationals, finally got over the hump and moved on to the pro ranks after landing behind Ward-El in the Overall balloting.

Look for an in-depth report on the show in the November ’02 IRONMAN.

’02 NPC USA Men’s Championships
Las Vegas, Nevada: July 27, 2002

Overall: Idrise Ward-El*

Superheavyweight
1) Idrise Ward-El*
2) Alan Grimes
3) Dave Palumbo
4) Omar Deckard
5) Albert Foster

Heavyweight
1) Troy Alves*
2) Marcus Haley
3) Abbas Khatami
4) Darryl Bush
5) Ruben Escobar

Light Heavyweight
1) Kris Dim
2) Michael Ergas
3) Robert Lopez
4) William Owens
5) Neko Roberson

Middleweight
1) Stan McQuay
2) David Henry
3) Garrett Allin
4) Jose Raymond
5) Tito Raymond

Lightweight
1) Eryk Bui
2) Jesse Duque
3) Derik Farnsworth
4) Rey Ronquilio
5) Carlo Filippone

Bantamweight
1) Clifton Torres
2) Lazarus Angulo
3) Ronald Nurse
4) Heath Warren
5) Thomas Armstrong
*Qualifies for an IFBB pro card.

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