Health Publications

Go figure: Jenny Lynn and Monica Brant-Peckham go one-two, again, at the 2005 Figure International

Flex, June, 2005 by Shawn Perine

In what is becoming a routine quite removed from the ones seen in fitness competitions, Jenny Lynn relegated Monica Brant-Peckham to a second-place finish, this time at the 2005 Figure International competition. In five out of six consecutive matchups, including this one, the duo had finished with Lynn ahead of Brant-Peckham, and five times Lynn had smiled broadly and accepted her spoils, while Brant-Peckham did her best to play the role of good sport. (A week later, at the San Francisco Pro Figure, Lynn would make it six out of seven.)

As to how clear Lynn's superiority is over Brant-Peckham, only the judges can tell you. To this reporter, it is a matter of apples and oranges--both women have sensational figures; both women are radiant onstage. If Brant-Peckham were to have turned the tables at the Figure International, it seems doubtful many in the audience would have booed. But a pecking order has seemingly been established in figure and, for now at least, Lynn sits higher on it than Brant-Peckham.

Mary Elizabeth Lado took third place with a figure that is long on lines and blessedly short on augmentation. Compact and curvy Christine Pomponio-Pate finished fourth, regal Latisha Wilder took fifth, and statuesque Amber Littlejohn ended up in sixth place.

Look for Lynn and Brant-Peckham to duke it out once again at this year's Figure Olympia, where Brant-Peckham will hope to finally turn apples into oranges ... or vice versa.

2005 FIGURE INTERNATIONAL FINAL RESULTS

March 4, 2005; Veterans Memorial Auditorium; Columbus, Ohio

COMPETITOR                   COUNTRY        PRIZE MONEY

 1 Jenny Lynn*               United States  $10,000 ([dagger])
 2 Monica Brant-Peckham*     United States    7,000
 3 Mary Elizabeth Lado*      United States    5,000
 4 Christine Pomponio-Pate*  United States    3,000
 5 Latisha Wilder*           United States    2,000
 6 Amber Littlejohn          United States    1,000
 7 Jane Awad                 Canada
 8 Elaine Goodlad            Canada
 9 Zena Collins              United States
10 Shannon Meteraud          United States
11 Lynsey Beattie-Ahearne    England
12 Allison Bookless          United States
13 Jen Hartley               United States

* Qualifies for 2005 Figure Olympia contest
([dagger]) Plus T3 watch

For hundreds more pics of the 2005 Figure International, go to www.flexonline.com/news/76.>

BY SHAWN PERINE

SENIOR WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN HORTON