For a weight class that is not contested in the Olympic Games, the field is very deep in the United States at 51 kg/112.25 pounds. The athletes who competed at this division at the 2005 U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev. had a tremendous level of experience and talent, including both veterans and young prospects. This division is contested at the World Championships every year, except the Olympic year, and whoever emerges for the United States is expected to do very well this year.    Winning the U.S. Nationals was veteran Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, who captured her eighth national crown. However she has not been a national championsince 2002, when she extended her consecutive nationals win streak to seven in a row (1996-2002). Murata was second at the 2001 World Championships, and was fourth in the World Championships two other times. She has more experience than any of the women competing on the national level, and has not given up on her dream of winning a World title. Last year, a Special Wrestle-off was held in the summer to determine the No. 1 spot at this division, and Murata won that event as well.    Murata defeated two-time U.S. Nationals champion Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids in the championship finals in Las Vegas this year. Ripley was aiming to drop down to 48 kg for the U.S. Nationals, but decided in the final week to stay up at 51 kg. It is possible that Ripley is still going to make the drop down for the World Team Trials. However, if she does stay up at this division, she will be expected to do very well. Ripley has yet to make a U.S. World Team, and is highly motivated to take the next step in her career.    2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Her loss came in the semifinals to Ripley in a close 1-0, 1-0 battle. Last year, Wong moved up to 121 pounds in her Olympic quest, but she was probably not big enough for that division. At 112.25 pounds, she can compete with anybody in the world. She and her coaches are trying to find the magic that she had back in 2003, when Wong was able to put it all together and establish herself as an international contender. Her experience makes a big difference when she faces some of the young athletes who are emerging at this division.    Although she is still in college and is young in years, Mary Kelly of the New York AC is considered one of the veterans here. Kelly is part of the USOEC women's university program at Northern Michigan, after attending two different colleges the previous season. She has been an age-group world medalist, and has placed at the Senior level since her high school days. Kelly was a Team USA member down at 48 kg in past seasons, but has moved up in weight for this season. She is hoping to have a breakthrough season, where she is able to put all of her talent and experience to the test.    The next two athletes in this division are young college students who are originally natives of Hawaii and have bright futures ahead of them. Kapua Torres of Pacific Univ. had her best season ever this year, including a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Nationals. She was impressive in winning the FILA Junior Nationals this year, where she will represent the USA at the Junior World meet. Torres defeated Debbi Sakai of the New York AC in the sixth place match, and also scored a win over Sakai at the Body Bar Nationals a few weeks earlier. Sakai had a strong season in 2004, taking second at both the U.S. Nationals and in the Special Wrestle-offs for this division. She has joined the team at the USOEC program at Northern Michigan this year. These athletes prove just how much talent and depth there is at this division at this time.    Taking the last qualifying spot from the U.S. Nationals by placing seventh is Maika Watanabe of Missouri Valley College. Watanabe had a successful college season this year, and has shown consistent progress on the Senior level. Only one other athlete has earned a spot in this field by winning a Regional event, Shandra Peterson of Iowa, who is a talented high school athlete.     There should be some good battles in this weight class during the Challenge Tournament, especially if none of the qualifiers decide to drop down in weight and test themselves at 48 kg. Another showdown between Ripley and Wong is possible, but athletes such as Kelly, Torres and Sakai hope to change that plan with a strong showing. Whoever survives this test will have her hands full with Murata, who has seemed to overcome the challenges of age and knows how to win. With experience and confidence on her side, it will be very difficult for anybody to beat Murata two out of three times in the Championship Series.    2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 51 KG/112.25 LBS.  1st - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo.(Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0  3rd - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (New York AC), 1-3, 1-0, 5-0  5th - Kapua Torres, Kahuku, Hawaii (Pacific) dec. Debbi Sakai, Miliani, Hawaii (New York AC), 6-0, 6-1  7th - Maika Watanabe, Napa, Calif. (Missouri Valley) dec. Cheryl Wong, Croton, N.Y. (unattached), 1-0, 1-0    QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 51 KG/112.25 LBS.  U.S. Nationals Champion - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, second place - Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, third place - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Elizabeth Torres, Kahuku, Hawaii (Pacific University)  U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Debbie Sakai, Miliani, Hawaii (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Maika Watanabe, Napa, Calif. (Missouri Valley)  Rocky Mountain Regional Champion - No entry at this weight class  Northern Plains Regional Champion - Shandra Peterson, Lake Mills, Iowa  Past World Team member - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  Past World Team member - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  '04 Sunkist Kids International champion - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  '04 NYAC Christmas Open champion - None, foreign champion  '05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion - None, foreign champion  International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) -   *'03 World Cup silver medalist - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  *'04 World Cup silver medalist - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)