Murray, Cutler will guest pose

Advertiser Staff

Seven-time Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray and Arnold's Classic champion Jay Cutler are some of the guest posers at the National Physique Committee Hawaiian Islands Bodybuilding Championships and Women's Fitness and Figure Contests on June 28.

The event, at the Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, features competition for open, juniors and masters (35-years-old and older), as well as the women's fitness and figure contest. Because the event is sanctioned by the National Physique Committee (NPC), the open and women's contests are national qualifiers.

Joining Murray and Cutler as guest posers are: Lisa Uzzle, winner of the 2002 NPC National Fitness contest, earning her card to compete in professional contests; Clifton Torres, Mr. USA bantam weight champion and NPC Nationals bantam champion; and Russ Testo, a physique artist.

Cutler, 29, is a two-time Arnold's Classic winner. He also won the 2000 Night of Champions contest and was runner-up at the 2001 Mr. Olympia, the top event in professional bodybuilding.

Murray won Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995 and was a runner-up in 1997 and 1998 before capturing the crown again last year.

Besides bodybuilding, Uzzle is a member of a dance group called Pure Energy.

Torres, a carpenter by profession, was born in Honolulu. The 38-year-old won the Bantam division of the 1996 Hawaiian Islands contest. That distinction allowed him to qualify for contest abroad. He won the 2002 USA Championship in Las Vegas and the 2002 Nationals in Dallas to qualify for his pro card.

Testo is not a bodybuilder like the others, but considered an entertainer. He has performed at four Mr. Olympias, five Arnold's Classics, as well as in international and national competitions.

Tickets for the Hawaiian Islands are $41, $36, $31, $26 and $21. All seats are reserved and are available at Mits' Basic Foods, 24 Hour Fitness centers at Kapi'olani and Mililani, Ticket Outlets and the Blaisdell ticket office.