(All photos are mine)
Alicia Zhou of Love Gymnastics took the all-around in the 10-11 year-old class by more than 2.5 points at the 2018 GK Hopes Championships held July 27 in Columbus, Ohio. Zhou took first on BB and second on VT and UB on her way to a total of 50.4 on the day. Baylie Belman of WOGA came in second AA with 48.7, despite a second on BB being her only placement in the top ten on each apparatus. Belman barely edged out Myli Lew of San Mateo, whose 48.5 was good for third AA. Winners of 10-11 division at 2018 GK Hopes Championship
, with Alicia Zhou first, Baylie Belman second and Myli Lew thirdLew took Bars with an impressive 12.8 (4.0 D, 8.8 Ex). Zoey Molomo of Metroplex won Vault with a 12.9, and was eighth overall. Paramount’s Ava San Jose took FX with a 12.6, and was tenth AA.
In the 11-12 Class, Lundyn Vandertoolen of Olympus took the all-around with a combined score of 51.35, and was first on UB with an eye-popping 13.25 (4.7 D/8.5 Ex). Skylar Dreser of International Elite took second AA with a 50.85, including a tie for first on FX with Ellen Zirbes of Flips MN. Everest’s Amber Lowe took third AA at 50.4, with second on UB her best placement. Vault was won by CJ Keunike with a 13.6
5 (a stellar 9.05 execution score). Genies Mya Witte’s beam routine was notable because her 13.2, which was good enough for a first place tie, included a fall; her D score was 5.5, and even with the fall, her execution was 7.7 (I made a note when she finished how excellent the routine was, even with the fall, and the judges apparently agreed); Witte managed seventh AA.
Rayla Light of Golden City overcooks a tumbling pass on FX, and can’t keep from taking a big step out of bounds.Sydney Jelen of Legacy Elite managed a tie with
Witte on BB, and was tied for 10th overall. Poor Rayna Light (16th AA) of Golden City stepped out of bounds twice (I got a photo of one of them that appears here), and got an execution score of 7.15, plus a .1 deduction to manage an 11.45.
Keep an eye out for these names in the next couple of years, as at least a few of them are sure to rise to the ranks of top juniors. Here is a link to all of the start lists & results of Hopes & US Classic: http://www.usagymclassic.com/results
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