New athletes shine at recent JABBFA novice and junior championships

With the body as the canvas, weights as brushes, and nutrition flowing in as paint, the result is a masterwork of bodybuilding. Following the recent Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association’s annual novice and junior championships, four athletes shared their exciting journey from pipe dream to piece de resistance.

Fascinated by the international world of bikini fitness, Alexzandra Young was delighted to discover a similar competition available locally.

“I’ve been an active gym goer for a decade. When I saw that JABBFA had a category for women that allowed for the same results as the international bikini fitness competition, I thought one day, I’ll do it. I was so hesitant to enter this year. Because I never thought I was developed enough to do it, with my muscularity,” she told Lifestyle.

Once the time had come to select a trainer, she turned to Shaun Smith, a certified trainer and bodybuilder, whom she had watched take home the win last year.

“I saw that Shaun competed and won his division. And he attended my gym, Hard End, so I asked if he could train me. He said if I’m serious, then starting that night, I needed to do forty five minutes of cardio every single day for two weeks after my workout. I was like, okay, he’s holding me accountable to my own actions right now,” she shared.

Smith admitted he hadn’t planned on training anyone, but her early dedication inspired him to change his mind.

“I could see the spark in her and she was definitely serious about taking on the journey. So we just got started. There was this beautiful balance and a lot of teamwork went into it. She listened, executed and excelled in every way possible, pivoting where necessary,” he said.

Working out twice daily for five days a week, Young trained for a total of three months leading up to competition day, “There’s real science behind bodybuilding. What you eat, how much you eat, the protein intake, the carb intake, everything matters. I ate mostly tuna, fish and chicken to fuel my muscles, maintaining a clean eating regimen. There were no sodas or juices; just water, like a ridiculous amount of water. Close to competition, it got even stricter in losing as much body fat as possible. It was very challenging; the dieting was the hardest part for me.”

Smith credited Young’s unwavering mental strength as the key to her success. Training with heavy weights while running on low fuel demanded intense focus, and staying on track meant staying mentally locked in at every stage.

But it was all worth it on show night when Young won the Bikini Fitness division. Smith never gave her a window to sit in fear.

“He was there from the start and between his pep talk and cheers from my family and friends, I was able to remain calm, go out there, hit all of my marks and have fun,” she said, adding, “It was a battle to the very end and it felt amazing when I was announced as the winner,” she explained.

MONIQUE TRENCHFIELD

Her competitor, Monique Trenchfield, placed second in the Bikini Fitness division and won the Wellness category. She said she was inspired to enter after watching her coach, Ross Lowe, transform his physique for competition the previous year.

Over 10 weeks, she trained twice daily, five days a week. Her workouts lasted about two hours, with an additional hour dedicated to cardio. Her diet consisted of four daily meals with moderate carbs and high protein, plus a fruit bowl.

“Lowe did my meal plans, workout plans, booked my posing sessions, helped me practice my poses during the week when I didn’t have posing sessions, counselled, guided and supported me through my little meltdowns and body dysmorphia. All of this ensured that I had all that I needed to win,” she shared.

According to Lowe, Trenchfield’s body responded well to his training method, and she didn’t disappoint when she made it to the big stage. “It’s 10 to 12 weeks’ worth of work just to go on stage for basically three minutes. So I told her, she was going to have to showcase it and give it her all. She did just that.”

Trenchfield described the stage as the most magical moment, “Imagine a little rural girl entering the bodybuilding arena for the first time and dominating in not one, but two categories. I was in awe; it felt both amazing and empowering. I was happy as well because all that hard work paid off and in that moment, let’s just say it felt like cloud nine.”

Both Young and Trenchfield are aiming to compete nationally and regionally.

DR FRANZ COLLINS

On the men’s side, Dr Franz Collins stole the show, striking victorious poses alongside his supportive mother. “Being in that moment with my mother meant everything to me. My mom has been my rock, and having her there, sharing the win with her on stage, was one of the most emotional highlights of the entire experience,” he revealed.

As a fan of fitness, he wanted to challenge himself in a new way, and bodybuilding provided the perfect platform. Coached by Adam Senior, he trained six days a week, zoning in on heavy lifting, making form and symmetry his main focus, “Adam guided me through peak week, posing, and dialling in my physique. He helped me to get everything right; from water intake to carb loading. And for strength training I got advice from a couple of experienced trainers at my Express Fitness Boulevard, namely Shayon Daniels and Joseph Henry.”

After an intense year, his efforts paid off when he became the men’s bodybuilding champion. “It was surreal. The lights, the energy, the crowd; all the hard work came down to that one moment. I locked in. I felt proud and grateful knowing all the sacrifices, early mornings, and discipline brought me the win,” he added.

SEAN FLYNN

Showing strength in motion, Sean Flynn was declared winner of the classic bodybuilding division. He credited his previous trainer and competitor, Andrew ‘Johnnie’ McCarthy, for laying the foundation. Flynn’s girlfriend encouraged him to compete and connected him with Weston ‘Corey’ McDonald, a bodybuilding athlete from Fit Farm who became his coach.

Flynn trained six days a week, incorporating at least 30 minutes of cardio daily. He ate six meals per day, with a diet high in protein, moderate to low carbohydrates, and adequate fat and fibre.

“Corey was instrumental in pushing me beyond my limits in training. He fine-tuned my physique, and provided expert guidance on diet, wardrobe and posing, essentially every aspect of competition prep. His support was invaluable,” Flynn said.

Stepping onto the stage with nerves at first, Flynn soon felt an adrenaline rush that was both thrilling and memorable, “The win was surreal. When the results were announced, I felt an overwhelming sense of elation and relief. It was a huge validation of my efforts.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com