The top talent in this division is Patricia Miranda of the Dave Schultz WC, a 2000 World silver medalist who made the drop in weight last year from 51 kg and has dominated the American scene. Miranda was upset at the 2002 World meet in her pool, but has turned in some tremendous international performances this winter. Among her victims this year have been three-time World champion Miyu Yamamoto of Japan, reigning World champion Bridget Wagner of Germany and two-time World medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada. Miranda has joined the USOTC resident program, and is focusing full-time on freestyle wrestling through 2004.    Ranked No. 2 is Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC, who beat Miranda in one of the three bouts at the World Team Trials last year. Miranda dominated Chun during an international meet recently. Chun has recovered from knee surgery, and a recent win at the University Nationals gives her momentum going in. Chun is also a USOTC resident athlete, and has considerable experience in comparison to some of the young challengers.    Next on the ladder is college star Mary Kelly, who was ahead of Chun in the University finals but lost in the final period. Kelly won a number of age-group World medals, and has a bright  future on the Senior level. She is the top star at Neosho County CC this season. Many wrestling fans may remember Kelly as the talented girl who competed for Illinois at the Cadet/Junior Nationals in Fargo for a few years. She comes from a great wrestling family, as her dad Jerry was a NCAA runner-up and uncle Bill a NCAA champion.    The rest of the field is a mix of college wrestlers and veteran challengers. Veteran Julie Gonzalez of the Dave Schultz WC is capable of reaching the championship match. Her experience goes back many years, and when she is competing well, can beat many of America's best. Talented Katrina Betts was injured this year as a collegian at UM-Morris, but when healthy is a contender. Betts has a tremendous upperbody attack with great throwing ability.    Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids has improved as a resident athlete, but may be up a weight class. Ripley came to the training center right out of high school, where she won a Junior National title and was a placewinner on the Senior level. Marine wrestler Miriam Jenkins has not competed since last year, but has high placements on the Senior and University levels in the past.    High school star Sara Fulp-Allen of the Peninsula Grapplers was fifth at last year's U.S. Nationals and had tremendous achievements on the age-group levels. College wrestlers Liz Short of UM-Morris, Amantha Hordagoda of Cal-Bakersfield and Gina Heinzelmann of the Minnesota Storm have shown steady improvement. Short competed in last year's University World Championships and is always in the medals at most events. Others to watch are Erica Dye, Kristen Fujioka of Pacific and Rachel Bernardes of Missouri Valley College. Dye was a high school state runner-up in West Virginia competing against boys, and also was very successful in USA Wrestling age-group events. After a year off the mats, she returned to qualify for a spot on the U.S. FILA Junior World Team. Dye's biggest challenge is that she is a bit undersized at this class.     This is one of the four Olympic weight classes, so there is always a chance that some people from 51 kg might make a run at this class in order to chase a spot in the Olympics.     2002 U.S. Women's Nationals results at 48 kg (105.5 lbs.)  1st - Patricia Miranda, Stanford, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) won by tech. fall over Julie Gonzalez, Vallejo, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC), 10-0, 5:02  3rd - Miriam Jenkins, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines) dec. Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley), 3-1  5th - Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (SF Peninsula Grapplers) dec. Katrina Betts, Milan, Mich. (UM-Morris), 4-1  7th - Malinda Ripley, Antioch, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Kristen Fujioka, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Pacific), 10-0