2008 Arnold Classic - 20th Anniversary Arnold Classic:

Jackson tries for third win in men’s bodybuilding COLUMBUS, OHIO – Dexter Jackson will strive for his third win in a field of 14 of the world’s best bodybuilders when they compete here March 1 for the richest prize in bodybuilding, a $130,000 check, a $20,000 watch and first place in the 20th Anniversary Arnold Classic.

Jackson, who won the Arnold Classic in 2005 and 2006, seeks to join Flex Wheeler (1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000) and Jay Cutler (2002, 2003 and 2004) as the only men to win the event more than twice. Others competing for another $194,000 in prize money are Toney Freeman, Gustavo Badell, Phil Heath, Silvio Samuel, Branch Warren and Ronny Rockel, who finished 3rd through 8th last year, and Melvin Anthony, Adorthus Cherry, Kai Greene, Deshaun Grimez, David Henry, Johnnie Jackson, and Desmond Miller.

“Thousands of athletes and spectators come back to Columbus every year, largely because Arnold has been so loyal to Columbus through the years,” said Jim Lorimer, co-producer of what is now the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend. “Arnold’s love for Columbus is shared by athletes in many sports.”

Preliminary judging for the Arnold Classic will be at noon March 1 on the stage at Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 300 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH. Finals will follow at 7 p.m.

Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests:

Kyle and Oriquen seek fourth title in Ms. International Contest Hendershott and Klein top contenders in Fitness Contest Figure Contest attracts 16 shapely women COLUMBUS, OHIO – Three-time winners Iris Kyle and Yaxeni Oriquen lead a field of 16 women bodybuilders seeking a share of $55,500 in prize money in the 20th Anniversary Ms. International Contest March 1. Twenty-eight other women, including Central Ohio’s Jen Hendershott, Julie Palmer, and Briana Tindall, will vie for $99,000 in fitness and figure contests.

“The match-up between Yaxeni Oriquen and Iris Kyle will be a great one because both are at the top of their game and finish consistently high in international competition,” says Arnold Sports Festival Co-Producer Jim Lorimer.

Preliminary judging rounds for the three women’s contests will be at noon, March 1 on the main stage of the Arnold Fitness EXPO at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Finals are at 7 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

The Ms. International competition gives women bodybuilders an opportunity to compete professionally. Nine women have held the title since Schwarzenegger and Lorimer started it in 1989. Kyle won the event in 2007, 2006, and 2004. Oriquen won in 2005, 2003 and 2002.

Twelve Fitness International competitors will be judged in categories of strength, body tone, shape, flexibility, creativity, choreography, athletic competence and performance, Lorimer said. Kimberly Klein, winner in 2007, and 2005 winner Jennifer Hendershott lead the field.

During the Figure International competition, sixteen women with the world’s fittest, most shapely female physiques will be judged in two rounds of posing, Lorimer said. The figure contest differs from the fitness event in that it does not judge acrobatic skills and routines as a part of the contest.

2008 Ms. International Competitors
Lisa Aukland Tracy Beckham Dayana Cadeau Tazzie Colomb Kristy Hawkins Rosemary Jennings	Iris Floyd Kyle Debi Laszewski Cathy LeFrancois Colette Nelson Yaxeni Oriquen	Betty Pariso Brenda Raganot Annie Rivieccio Antoinette Thomas Betty Viana-Adkins

2008 Fitness International Competitors
Regiane Da Silva Tina Durkin Bethany Gainey Tracey Greenwood	Oksana Grishina Jen Hendershott Kimberly Klein Julie Lohre	Tonya Merryman Mindi O’Brien Julie Palmer Stacy Simons

2008 Figure Competitors
Sonia Adcock Gina Aliotti Paola Almerico Catherine Andersen Natalie Benson	Amy Fry Bernadette Galvan Jennifer Gates Deborah Leung Juliana Malacarne Kristal Richardson	Chastity Slone Brenda Marie Smith Briana Tindall Latisha Wilder Nicole Wilkins

                             



Tickets are available at, www.ticketmaster.com/arnold, or (614) 431-3600. Tickets for Prejudging are $50 and $75; tickets for Finals are $50 and $75. A VIP ticket package is available for $350, which includes men’s prejudging and finals, women’s bodybuilding, fitness and figure contests, a buffet dinner party, a fitness training seminar with Arnold and the champs, and 3-day admission to the Arnold Fitness EXPO.

Arnold Sports Festival National Sponsors: GNC, All American EFX, aminoVITAL, ct pro, EAS, Gaspari Nutrition, Gold’s Gym International, Jan Tana, MHP, MuscleTech, Muscular Development, NetJets, Solae, Star Trac, Sunrider, Twinlab, and Vitamin Shoppe.

Arnold Fitness EXPO Sponsors: 8-Ball Nutrition, AnabolicXtreme, Bodybuilding.com, BodyWell Nutrition, BOSS, Bulk Nutrition, Burn Machine, Dymatize, German American Technologies, ISS, Labrada Nutrition, MRI, MRM, NxLabs, Optimum Nutrition, Prolab, SAN, Triarco and Universal Nutrition.
Arnold Sports Festival Local Sponsors: American Dairy Association Mideast, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Sports Network, Huntington Banks, Metro Fitness, QFM96, Raisin Rack, Ricart Automotive Group, and Time Warner Cable.
For more information see our website: www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.