2001 Women's Tri-Fitness World Challenge
Las Vegas, Nevada

Viva Las Vegas!

Overall Tri-Fitness Winners 1st - Cynthia Hill 2nd - Gina Oakes 3rd - Sylvia Ferrero

Woman of the new millennium;
She's the Tri-Fitness Queen;
She's in the lead turning up the heat;
She's the best that you'll ever find;
She's one of a kind!
Here's the moment she's worked hard for;
Going to turn it up and get on the course;
Strength and grace and muscle tone;
The natural high this woman's own.
With all the rest who past the test;

There's no one like her, she's the best;
Without a doubt she's looking lean;
She's the New Tri-Fitness Queen!

(Lyrics from Tri-Fitness Queen CD written and
performed by Espree deKor)

Bright lights, glitter, gleam, ching a ling of slot machines, and the hot desert sun is what 144 of the most fit, beautiful accomplished female athletes and 20 fearsome male competitors encountered as the WTF brought it's world challenge to Las Vegas.

"The Natural Muscle Magazine's WTF World Challenge 2001 epitomizes what athletics and physical fitness is about," states promoter Al Rosen. 

There are two mandatory events, the "VPX" Obstacle Course (160 yards of extreme challenges) and the "Power Systems" Fitness Skills (events demonstrating strength, speed, power, agility and endurance).  In addition, there are two more events which complete the "Tri-Fitness," the "Ballistic Body Wear" Fitness Routine (judged on strength moves, choreography, endurance, flexibility and showmanship) and the ever popular "GEN" Grace and Physique Event.  In the G&P, the athlete has an opportunity to show off her femininity and the hard work she puts into attaining an athletic physique. 

The event is divided into categories:  Tri-Fitness (all the events); Dual Fitness Optional (all but routine) and Dual (no routine or G&P).   There are age/height groups for each of the events.

Sylvia Ferrero 1st Place Physique & Dual-Fitness Optional

Rosen states:   "The competition was unbelievable as these athletes came from 41 different states along with a large contingent from Canada.  There were  doctors, mothers, grandmothers, and entire families (Balmert/Quimper Family of Ohio).  One, Janis Holland from Marietta, Georgia, had a child only 10 months prior to the competition.   These women were role models and had the desire of true champions."

As the 144 women gathered at the Monte Carlo Resort on July 26, stares and glares were everywhere.  It looked like the Fourth of July with the constant flashes of cameras.  They were all awaiting the first event, the "GEN" G & P to take place the following morning in the Las Vegas Theater. 

On July 27^th, the athletes had their opportunity to parade before the panel of judges (a very creditable panel with fitness related backgrounds).  Coming away with the victory was Miami Beach's Sylvia Ferrero.   The thirty-year old native of Toronto, Canada, scored an amazing 9.364 edging out Southern California's Cynthia Hill (9.329) and Arizona's Danielle Edwards (9.314).  Rounding out the top 10 were:  Sarah Orbanic, Mocha Lee, Julie Green, Danielle Nagel, Aniya Lynn, Lia Montelongo, and Dr. Susan Habanova. 

Immediately following the "GEN" Grace & Physique Event, the athletes began  warm-ups as they prepared for the "Ballistic Body Wear" Fitness Routine.  Jennifer Rosen, opened the event with a high flying exhibition routine which got the crowd going.  Leaping her way to victory was former college cheerleader and veteran fitness performer Gina Oakes (Burlington, N.C).  Gina scored a 9.525 as she edged out Cynthia Hill (9.492), Sandra Augustin (9.408), Sybil Scheffer (9.317) and Debbie Sizemore (9.242). 

On Saturday morning, the athletes and crowd gathered under the 108 degree Las Vegas heat at Durango Stadium.  The athletes looked amazing in their new uniforms as they prepared for the "VPX" Obstacle Course Event.  Spraying down the athletes with hoses were Las Vegas' Firefighters (Capt. Randy Bradshaw, "B" Platoon, Station 22).  Setting a new outdoor course record (49.740) was Shanay Norvell of Sterling, Virginia.  Shanay is an outstanding athlete and member of John Atherton's ATX.  Following close behind Shanay was Dream Team member Gina Oakes and LALOCA's , Tania D'Anna of Inverness, Florida. 

In the Team Relay (19 teams entered), first place trophies were taken home by LOLOCA's Beth Patterson, Kristia Knowles, Colette Roberts, and Tania D'Anna.  In second place was ATX's Black Diamonds':  Mocha Lee, Shannon Thompson, Shanay Norvell, and Tanji Johnson.  Taking the bronze medal was Dream Team Extreme:   Debbie Sizemore, Danielle Nagel, Sylvia Ferrero, and Gina Oakes.  In fourth place were The Maryland Movers:  Dora Overs, Patti Franklin, Vida Garcia, and Lynn Virant. 

Cynthia Hill 1st Place WTF Tri-Fitness

The Men's Obstacle Course winner was Dream Team member, Rodney Boyd of Tampa.  Following behind Rodney was Yani McCoy of California and Jimmy Preuter, Team Fox of Ohio.   The Fitness Skills and Dual Fitness title went to California's Steve Teran.

The final event, Fitness Skills, followed the obstacle course (but in the air conditioning of the Monte Carlo Resort Ballroom).  Fitness skills are comprised with three (3) skills:  shuttle run, box jumps, and bench press.  The top shuttle run was turned in by Cynthia Hill (36.7 seconds or 9.606 points).  Scoring a perfect 10.0 in the box jump was Vida Garcia (39.6 seconds).  Proving she was the strongest at the bench press was Jennifer Mills (50 reps and 10.0 points) from Westwood, California.  But winning the all-around Fitness Skills title was Cleveland, Ohio's Tammy Lynn.  Tammy tallied an overall score of 9.624 as she overcame the challenge of Trista Bernier (Canada), Jennifer Mills, Janice Pare (Windsor, Ontario), and LeAnn Jobin (Madison, Tennessee).

Shanay Worvell Overall Obstacle Course Champion

The "Nikken" Dual Fitness champion was Trista Bernier followed by Shanay Norvell and Mocha Lee.  In the Dual Fitness Optional the title went to Sylvia Ferrero as she edged out Cynthia Hill and Danielle Edwards.

In the "Natural Muscle Magazine" Tri-Fitness Event the overall title went to Cynthia Hill (Team Max Muscle L.A) who joined her husband, Steve Teran as they swept overall title. Along with cash prizes, trophies and medals, FLIRT presented gift certificates to the top three athletes.  But, the true champions were each and every competitor (144 women and 20 men) who challenged themselves and WON!!!!

The following is the scoring for the "Natural Muscle Magazine" Tri-Fitness Event:

First Place Age / Height Group Winners

"Natural Muscle Magazine"
Tri-Fitness
Sybil Scheffer
Gina Oakes
Cynthia Hill
Tanji Johnson
Debbie Sizemore
Sylvia Ferrero
Mary Mullenhoff
Shannon Battle
Gisela Cronan
Shelley Preuter
Stephanie Hill

The Winner of the Universal Nutrition Award (best attitude) - Debbie Sizemore, Sarasota, Florida