Myers' composure leads to overall championship
By Brian McInnis
Advertiser Staff Writer
In the end, composure determined the winner of the 2005 Hawaiian Isles Bodybuilding Championships.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
Keith Myers claimed the 27-year contest's light-heavyweight title and went on to best three other division finalists for the overall championship last night. Myers, who was in the contest for the first time, offered easy smiles on stage and showed little sign of strain to an enthusiastic crowd of 1,000 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Dawn Quiocho poses during the figure contest.
"(Being calm) is part of the strategy," Myers said. "What I learned is (to) basically stay relaxed and keep looking at the judges, don't tremble a lot, clench your teeth and just be poised."
The tactic seems to have paid off.
"It feels great (to win) — I trained really hard for this show," said Myers, who works out at Hickam Fitness Center.
While middleweight champion Arleigh Bumanglag, 22, had the greatest share of crowd support in the final pose-down, the 5-foot-9 Myers was able kept his calm.
During the final pose-down, Myers did several "raise the roof" motions with his arms to get the audience involved.
Bumanglag, a Salt Lake resident, had his older brother, Argyle, who flew in from Arizona, shouting encouragement.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
(Bumanglag) was really impressive," Myers said. "All the guys were great. I really give them a lot of credit for working hard."
Dawn Quiocho poses during the figure contest.
Both Myers and Bumanglag said they are planning to enter the Mr. USA competition in Las Vegas later this month.
Ku'ulei Vedder, of Gold's Gym, edged Lynn Racoma, of Iron Dungeon Spa Fitness Center, to claim the NPC Hawai'i Figure Contest for women. The 11 figure competitors were divided into short and tall categories, and category winners Vedder — tall — and Racoma — short — competed head-to-head for the overall title.
"(It was) unexpected," Vedder said. "I thought my chances were good, but I thought everybody looked great. I was trying to be (calm), but I was shaking."
In the Over-35 Masters Championship, Lloyd Tully, of Gold's Gym, defeated Tommy Spikes, of Hickam, in a one-on-one showdown.
David Baptista claimed the Junior Hawaiian Islands Championship. The bodybuilder from Hickam Fitness Center was the only junior competitor of over 6 feet, and offered the widest variety of showmanship moves during his music. He defeated junior lightweight champ Preston Brown in a final pose-down.
Three guest posers — Chris Cook, Troy Alves, and Gunter Schlierkamp — were also on hand for a pose-down against each other.
Alves, the 2002 heavyweight Mr. USA, was impressed with the competitors.
"I respect all these guys who came out here," Alves said. "It's really scary (being up on stage), especially when you're only about 17, for the juniors. Fan support is really important (and) anybody can be successful with hard work and support.
Reach Brian McInnis at bmcinnis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8040.
