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News07/26/2007 BEN WHITE WINS THE OVERALL AT THE USASDuring a weekend where over 400 competitors turned out to take the stage at the 2007 NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was a given that not everyone would go home happy. On Saturday night, count Ben White as one of the happiest.White won both the Super Heavyweight and overall titles on Saturday night to earn his way into the professional ranks. He was joined by DeShaun Grimes, who won the heavyweight class and beat out the rest of the field to win the second pro card given out in the men's competition. White displayed a balanced overall physique to beat out pre-contest favorites Robert Hatch (third) and Jerome Ferguson (fourth) in the superheavies. Grigori Atoyan was the runner-up in the division. Grimes outclassed the up-and-coming Brandon Curry (second) and Adorthus Cherry (third) in the heavies. In the light-heavyweight division, Peter Putnam garnered 10 out of 11 first-place votes to outduel Al Auguste (second) and Mark Perry (third). In women's bodybuilding, Jennifer Sedia won both middleweight and the overall titles. In figure, Catherine Anderson won the overall to win her pro card. Prejudging report THE HEAT OF BATTLE In a sweltering Las Vegas, little has been decided after prejudging of the 2007 NPC USA's Nearly 128 competitors turned out for the men's bodybuilding prejudging of the 2007 NPC USA Championships at Artemis Hall in Las Vegas on Friday night, but only seven are going to go home happy. Based on how close the competition was in the heavier divisions, things might come down to the wire. Precontest favorites Peter Putnam (Light Heavyweight), Adorthus Cherry (Heavyweight) and Robert Hatch (Super Heavyweight) all held their own in their respective weight classes, but none of the three should be comfortable or too confident heading into Saturday's finals. The light heavyweight division likely will come down to Putnam and Al Auguste of Orlando, Florida. Putnam displayed the most balanced overall physique in the class, but the final decision will come down to how each holds his conditioning, or improves it for tomorrow nights finals. The same could be said for the heavyweights, although this will be a three-way race between Cherry, DeShaun Grimez and 22-year-old Brandon Curry. Cherry displayed his signature broad shoulders and tiny waist, but his chest wasn't nearly as thick as Grimez or Curry, and he may not have done enough to improve his legs since placing third at last year's USAs and second at the 2006 Nationals. Still, although Curry displays the most pro potential, Cherry's past accomplishments could vault him to the top of the class. Grimez carried the most overall size, but was the least conditioned of the three. In the supers, it looks like Ben White's show to lose. White was more complete than Hatch, who was too smooth in the hams and didn't carry enough size in his lower half to match up with his impressive body, and better conditioned than Ferguson. 2007 NPC USA Bodybuilding Championships Bantamweight
1. Paul Gillison Bantamweight Prejudging Gallery Welterweights
12. Mike Davis Lightweight Prejudging Gallery Welterweights
25.George Thibault Welterweight Prejudging Gallery Middleweights
38. David Groce Middleweight Prejudging Gallery Light-Heavyweights
54. Frank Castillega Light-Heavyweight Prejudging Gallery Heavyweights
85. Adorthus Cherry Heavyweight Prejudging Gallery Super-Heavyweights
111. Robert Hatch Super-Heavyweight Prejudging Gallery
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