Washington resident Mayhew Cox is now one of the top bodybuilders in North Carolina. Last Saturday, he was crowned champion at the 2009 NPC Metrolina Bodybuilding, Fitness, and Figure Competition in Albemarle.

Cox competed in the Masters division (age fifty and above), in which he was the oldest competitor. Over seventy men and women from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia competed in various age and weight divisions.

Saturday was no doubt one of the most grueling days of Cox’s life. In the morning, he hit the stage in the pre-judging portion of competition where a panel of judges graded him on muscular size and symmetry. Awards were handed out in front of at least 600 spectators during the evening session.

Although fitness has been a lifelong passion for Cox, this was his first time in a bodybuilding competition. Training for such an event involves months of early morning workouts, countless hours on the treadmill, and strict adherence to a diet that includes few carbohydrates.

After all that sacrifice, Cox is unsure whether he will compete again. “I think I’ll just enjoy eating some cheeseburgers and desserts in the coming days and make that decision later,” he explained Saturday evening.

Cox is employed as a real estate agent and trains at Fitness Unlimited in Washington.