Neither of the finalists from the 2001 World Championships will be competing at this weight class this year. Christine Nordhagen-Vierling of Canada, the 2001 World Champion and a six-time World gold medalist, is injured and not competing this season. Toccara Montgomery of the United States, the 2001 FILA Women's Wrestler of the Year and the silver medalist a year ago, has moved up in weight to 72 kg.    The 2000 World Champion will be competing, Kristie Marano of the United States. Marano has also won four World silver medals, making her one of the most successful women wrestlers in history. Marano competed down at 63 kg this year and was defeated in the World Team Trials by Sara McMann. She won a Special Wrestle-off over 2001 World Cup champion Katie Downing to make the U.S. lineup at this division. Marano brings experience, skill and toughness to the tournament, and looks to return to the finals once again.    Germany's Anita Schatzle is among the top gold-medal hopefuls. She was second in the 1999 World Championships and third in the 2001 World Championships. Schlatzle was the 2001 Junior World Champion, defeating Montgomery in the finals. Her second place at the 2002 European Championships shows that she is still at the top of her game.    Russia's Anna Shamova is also a veteran who knows how to win medals. She was second in the World in 2000, losing to Marano in the gold-medal finals, and placed third at the 1999 World Championships. Shamova was third at this year's European Championships. Other options for the Russian team are Sveta Yarashevich, who was fourth at the 2001 World Championships, or  Natalia Gavrilova, the 2001 European Champion.    The 2002 European Champion is veteran Lise Golliot-Legrand of France. Golliot-LeGrand won World titles in 1995 and 1997 and has the saavy to challenge for the medals if she is competing at her best.    Canada should be well represented, even with Nordhagen-Vierling on the sidelines. Young star Shannon Samler will compete, and she showed her abilities by taking sixth at the 2000 World Championships. She was second at the 2002 World University Championships and third at the 2001 World Cup, and has proven that she can compete at the highest levels.    Poland should also be competitive, with either Ewelina Pruszko or Monika Kowalska. Pruszko was sixth in the 1999 World Championships and ninth in the 2000 World Championships, and placed a solid fourth at this year's European Championships. Kowalska was ninth at the 2001 World Championships, but competed up at 72 kg at this year's European meet.    Xiomara Guevara of Venezuela placed fourth at the 2000 World Championships and fifth in the 1999 World Championships. She was also second at the 2002 Pan American Championships, losing to American Montgomery in the finals.     Yanli Yang of China was sixth at the 2001 World Championships, and second at the 2001 World Cup. Yang added a 2002 World University Championships gold medal this summer to her growing list of achievements. Japan's entry is Norie Saito, who hopes to return Japan to the medal rounds at this challenging division.    The 2002 African champion is Yousria Magdy A Moaty of Egypt. Among the others with high hopes are Katerina Burmistrova of Ukraine, Zlateve Stanka or Galina Ivanova of Bulgaria, Jana Panova of Kyrghzstan, Ling-Li Sha of Taipei and Han-Na Kim of Korea.    Kristie Marano of the United States has hopes of adding a second World gold medal to her loaded cabinet of awards. Other veterans including Anita Schatzle of Germany, Anna Shamova of Russia and Lise Golliot-LeGrand of France look to stand on the top of the podium.  With a field stocked full of other strong talents, this could be a very competitive and entertaining division this year.    2001 World Championships results    68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Gold - Christine Nordhagen-Vierling (Canada) dec. Toccara Montgomery (USA), 4-1; Bronze - Anita Schatzle (Germany) won by tech. fall over Sveta Yarashevich (Russia), 11-1; 5th - Katerina Burmistrova (Ukraine); 6th - Yanli Yang (China); 7th - Zlateve Stanka (Bulgaria); 8th - Unda Maider (Spain); 9th - Monika Kowalska (Poland); 10th - Jana Panova (Kyrghzstan)    2000 World Championships results   69 kg/149.75 lbs. - Gold - Kristie Marano (USA); Silver - Anna Shamova (Russia); Bronze - Tomoe Miyamoto (Japan); 4th - Xiomara Guevara (Venezuela); 5th - Lise Golliot - Legrand (France); 6th - Shannon Samler (Canada); 7th -  Galina Ivanova (Bulgaria); 8th - Ling-Li Sha (Taipei); 9th - Ewelina Pruszko (Poland); 10th -Natalya Bodnarets (Ukraine)    1999 World Championships   69 kg/149.75 lbs.  -  1st - Sandra Bacher (USA) dec. Anita Schatzle (Germany), 8-1; 3rd - Anna Sjamova (Russia) dec. Natalia Bodnarets (Ukraine), 8-0; 5th - Xiomara Guevera (Venezuela); 6th - Ewelina Prusszko (Poland); 7th - Galina Ivanova (Bulgaria); 8th - Nina Strasser (Austria); 9th - Heidi Skemark (Sweden); 10th - Lise Golliot (France)    Each day this week, TheMat.com will preview a weight class at the 2002 Women's World  Championships, set for Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board or the Women's Wrestling Board on TheMat.com Message Boards.