Houston Pro Fitness Champion Trixie Greenwood checked in and gave me the skinny on what’s happening in Florida. Her direct flight was canceled this morning due to the plane’s door being broken. No truth to the rumor that she tried to kick it in when they asked her to close up the smelly chicken and asparagus container. Ms. Fitness Olympia, who Trixie so elquontley referred to as her “crippled puerto rico friend”, Adela Garcia’s flight was also delayed due to weather. The weather is rainy and humid in Jacksonville. The Houston champ was waiting for Adela’s luggage to arrive when I spoke to her.

The prejudging for the show begins in a few minutes. Check back for more on the show later tonight.

This weekend IFBB Figure Pro, Kristal Richardson will take the stage for the second time in 2008. Her first outing was at the Figure International where she was 10th. Kristal continues to refine and streamline her physique with hopes of nabbing an Olympia birth. She tells me she is feeling good and is ready to take the stage. Best Wishes Kristal!

Kristal Richardson stretching in the gym.

Those of you who had hopes of getting a tan or doing a few beach shoots may have to wait a bit. The weather report from Jacksonville is rainy with dreary skies. I’m told Adela Garcia and Tracey Greenwood will be making the trip to this show. Tracey is scheduled to guest pose where fans will get a look at the Houston Pro champ. Will she repeat in a couple weeks at the Europa Super Show? As long as she doesn’t hurt her head from all those handstand push-ups she’s been doing, she just might find the winner’s circle again.

Check back throughout the weekend for more Jacksonville reports.

This weekend pro figure returns to Florida with the Dexter Jackson Classic. This show marks the return of Mary Lado and Jessica Paxson-Putnam. We haven’t seen either woman compete since the Olympia, last September. Jessica Lyons will be making her pro debut this weekend. She won the second pro card at the NPC Jr USA contest, second only to Lenay Hernandez. Lenay went on to place second in the Houston Pro at her debut, will Jessica have a similar experience? I had the chance to shoot with Kristi Tauti a couple days ago and I’ve never seen her look better. She’s already qualified for the Olympia but had planned on competing in this show for months. Kristal Richardson will return to the stage with a more streamlined look and will be a threat to top spots in this show.

Check back, I’ll be previewing a few competitors throughout the week. The competitor list as of today:

1. Elisa ARCHIBOLD, USA
2. Jane AWAD, Canada
3. Tivisay BRICENO, USA
4. Thais CABRICES-WERNER, Venezuela
5. Krissy CHIN, USA
6. Becky CLAWSON, USA
7. Andrea DUMON, USA
8. Sherma DEL TERGO, USA
9. Kristin GOMES, USA
10. Allison JONES-WILLIAMS, USA
11. Mary Elizabeth LADO, USA
12. Jessica LYONS, USA
13. Patricia MELLO, Brazil
14. Petra MERTL, Czech Republic
15. Melissa MONTANARO-GRIFFIN, USA
16. Susanne NIEDERHAUSER, Austria
17. Claire PARMLEY, USA
18. Jessica PAXSON-PUTNAM, USA
19. Melissa PEARO, USA
20. Marcy PORTER, USA
21. Larissa REIS, USA
22. Kristal RICHARDSON, USA
23. Amy STEPHENS, USA
24. Laura SUTTER, USA
25. Kristi TAUTI, USA
26. Stephanie TOGRUL-TULIN, USA
27. Irina VESELOVA, Russa
28. Christine WAN, USA
29. Tessa WOOD, USA

She nabbed the second IFBB pro card at the 2008 NPC Jr. USAs and will soon be making her professional figure debut. Jessica Lyons has decided to try her hand on the next level at the Jacksonville Pro Classic. She had originally intended on the New York Pro for her debut however decided she was ready to get in the mix a bit sooner than expected. We’ll see how she fairs next month. This is one of our photos from the day after her victory.

Jessica Lyons in Charleston, South Carolina.

The list for the 2008 Jacksonville Pro Figure show is shaping up to be a good lineup. A few faces will return to the stage for the first time in months. How will the time off serve Jessica Paxson-Putnam and Mary Elizabeth Lado? Jessica Lyons will be making her pro debut – will she fair as well as Lenay Hernandez did? Kristi Tauti is already qualified for the Olympia and will be a threat again at this show. Canadian Jane Awad is looking to move up from her Houston Pro placings. Kristal Richardson has steadily improved and has take a little time off from the stage but certainly not from working or working out. This is also the debut for Brazilian Larissa Reis she’s another one to watch at this show. Christine Wan has been in the mix and could make a push for the top placings if she’s able to put it all together. I just spoke to Krissy Chin and she will also be competing at this show despite not being on the list yet.

COMPETITOR LIST:
1 Archibold, Elisha USA
2 Awad, Jane Canada
3 Briceno, Tivisay USA
4 Cabrices Werner, Thais Venezuela
5 Clawson, Becky USA
6 Jones-Williams, Allison USA
7 Lado, Mary Elizabeth USA
8 Lyons, Jessica USA
9 Mello, Patricia Brazil
10 Mertl, Petra Czech Republic
11 Montanaro-Griffin, Melissa USA
12 Niederhauser, Susanne Austria
13 Parmley, Claire USA
14 Paxson-Putnam, Jessica USA
15 Pearo, Melissa USA
16 Porter, Marcy USA
17 Reis, Larissa USA
18 Richardson, Kristal USA
19 Sharp, Cynthia USA
20 Steffens, Jessica USA
21 Stephens, Amy USA
22 Sutter, Laura USA
23 Tauti, Kristi USA
24 Veselova, Irina Russia
25 Wan, Christine USA
26 Wood, Tessa USA