The 2008 NPC Jr. USA Championships prejudging is now history and with over 220 entrants, this year's event is on course to set a record for having the most competitors to date.  With 2 pro cards in Figure and 1 in Fitness at stake, the competition in the women's divisions is fierce; however, it's the men's show that has everyone talking.

The middleweight class was comprised of only 4 men-Michael Elgawly, Vincent Que, Brian Hartline, and Rommel Cordova.  While not a huge class by any means, the quality was top notch.  When all is said and done, it'll be interesting who the judges choose as the new Jr USA middleweight champ.

The men's light heavyweight class was stacked with over 17 competitors-many with impressive shapes and superb conditioning.  However, when prejudging was over,  it came down to a two-man dog fight between New Jersey natives Kris Lecomte (2008 NPC NY Metropolitan Champ) and Erik Ramirez (2008 NPC NY Metropolitan runner up).  Lecomte's great symmetry and muscle shape squared off against Ramirez's striated glutes and dyanamic performance.

In the heavyweight class, New Jersey native Marlon Ballesteros battled it out with Kevin Levrone look-a-like Rafael Jaramillo.  Ballesteros' thickly muscled upper body might have overshadowed Jaramillo's; however, it was Jaramillo's large skeletal structure and small joints that impressed me most.

The super heavyweight's featured 6'2", 245lb, newcomer, Cedric McMillan.  The 2007 NPC South Carolina State Champion has one of the crazy shoulder-to-waist differentials in the business.  Coupled with his tiny joints and round muscle bellies, he's got to be the man to beat.   McMillan was challenged in a two-man callout by the super ripped-to-the-bone Chad Secrist.  In the end, it'll come down to whether or not the judges favor McMillan's superior size and shape or Secrist's sliced and diced conditioning.

2008 NPC JR USA PHOTO GALLERY