Forget Mary Lou Retton, America's newest sweetheart is 24 year-old Vermonter Krystal Smith.
Yesterday, Krystal, and eight-year veteran of Hannaford Supermarket, dispatched 21 other grocery baggers to take home the $10,000 top prize at the 2011 U.S. Best Bagger National Championship in Las Vegas.
She filled three grocery bags in 38 seconds--all the while, being judged on "bag-building technique, weight distribution, style, attitude and appearance"--at the Mirage Hotel, while other competitors looked on in stunned silence.
"Krystal is quick," Hannaford's Andy Willette said before the bag-off. "She has got some passion for it. She is very fast."
Krystal didn't disagree.
"I think I am really fast," she said. "I think I have good balance and I really kicked butt in the state [qualifiers], so I really have a really good chance."
When all was said and done (38 seconds later), Krystal emerged victorious. Her technique?
"You have to make sure your produce is in one bag, your boxes are in another and weight; not too heavy in one bag and too light in another," she explained.
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Yesterday, Krystal, and eight-year veteran of Hannaford Supermarket, dispatched 21 other grocery baggers to take home the $10,000 top prize at the 2011 U.S. Best Bagger National Championship in Las Vegas.
She filled three grocery bags in 38 seconds--all the while, being judged on "bag-building technique, weight distribution, style, attitude and appearance"--at the Mirage Hotel, while other competitors looked on in stunned silence.
"Krystal is quick," Hannaford's Andy Willette said before the bag-off. "She has got some passion for it. She is very fast."
Krystal didn't disagree.
"I think I am really fast," she said. "I think I have good balance and I really kicked butt in the state [qualifiers], so I really have a really good chance."
When all was said and done (38 seconds later), Krystal emerged victorious. Her technique?
"You have to make sure your produce is in one bag, your boxes are in another and weight; not too heavy in one bag and too light in another," she explained.