1970 Jr. Mr. United States

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, we're happy to say, that we were able to get sufficient information and pictures about the recent Junior Mr. United States physique contest and power meet for our readers.

In the past we had great difficulty in getting enough pictures to cover the competition, and when we did, it was months later. Consequently we used only the results or the summary of the meet. Inasmuch as the Juniors are only held a couple weeks prior to the Senior Championships, the Juniors are usually overshadowed by the Seniors. For one thing we have always managed to get plenty of pictures and very good coverage of the Senior Championships, but not so of the Juniors. This year, however, we got ample coverage of the power meet as the pictures on pages 10,11 and 12 of this edition show, plus the group shot of the winner and runners-up in the physique contest shown here above. This is the first time since the Juniors began that we were able to get this many good photos along with the report on the lifting, and will explain why we never featured them in the past.

This excellent Junior meet this year was staged at the Denver Central YMCA in Denver, Colorado, on the 8th and 9th of August. Seventeen physique contestants were on hand to try for the Junior Mr. United States title. Most of these contestants were in top form, and indicated that it wasn't going to be an easy task for the judges to make their selection. The outcome of the judging, however, showed that muscular Carl Smith of Richmond, Kentucky, a recent S&H coverman with his family, led the group and took top honors in the physique contest. In second place was the former MD coverman, Mike Dayton of Napa, California. The third place spot went to Yorker Jim Handley, a well-built man who has been successful in winning and placing in a number of other top physique events. Kenneth Kuehn of Lansing, Michigan, took fourth place, plus winning several of the subdivision awards. And Charles Estes, the tallest contestant of the meet from Murfreesboro, Tenn. placed fifth. For more complete details on the placings of other contestants, refer to the listing on the opposite page which shows where and how each man finished.

Generally, the physique contest is usually the grand finale of the meet and just about everyone who comes to the lifting meet is also interested in seeing where and how the physique champions finish. Moreover, it's not unusual to witness an upset in these contests. Often the favored champion is beaten out for the title by some "unknown" or a newcomer. This year's winner, Carl Smith, however, has been around for awhile and has done well in other physique contests, so his victory wasn't any great surprise, although it may have surprised a few of the competitors who also had an eye on taking the title. But each of these men can chalk this down to experience and come back and try again next year.

The winner, Carl Smith, has a muscular, well-developed physique and is steadily improving in his ability to project himself better in his posing display. All this has helped and perhaps has given him the edge over some of the others, as well as the Junior Mr. United States crown!

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Carl Smith, Mr. USA Title Holder

- The winner and runners-up in the Jr. Mr. United States contest are, left to right: Ken Kuehn, Lansing, Mich., 4th; Mike Dayton, Napa, Calif., 2nd; Carl Smith, Richmond, Ky., 1st.; Jim Handley, York, Pa., 3rd; and Charles Estes, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 5th.