Two gymnasts will compete at state championships in Burlingame
this weekend
HOLLISTER
You may have seen some of USA Sports Junior Olympic Competitive gymnasts running sprints at Rancho San Justo Middle School over the past two months and wondered what gymnasts are doing running.
This is one of many ways they have been getting ready for the Nor-Cal Zones and State Championships, as well as training for up to 10 hours a week with dance, conditioning and strength training.
This year USA Sports had eight gymnasts competing for spots at levels 4, 5 and 6. In order to qualify for the state championships, gymnasts must receive an all-around score of 34 or higher during Zone Competitions and the Competitive Meet Season.
USA Sports has six gymnasts who qualified this year.
Competing at Level 5 in the Zone 8 Championships on Nov. 8, Sophie Nye placed third all-around, scoring 36.85 with a first place on beam and a third place on floor. Colette Yamaoka placed sixth all-around with a score of 36.725. Christy Gardner placed 13th all-around and missed going to state by only five-tenths of a point. Nye and Yamaoka will compete at the State Championships in Burlingame on Nov. 22 and 23.
At Level 6 in the Zone 8 Championships, Taylor Lawrence placed fifth all-around, scoring 35.2 with a third place on floor. Lawrence competed on Nov. 15 in Sacramento at the Nor-Cal State Competition and placed second on floor and ninth on bars.
Kylii Anderson, Autumn Bustillos and Shelby Kennedy qualified and will be competing at Level 4 States on Dec. 6 and 7 in Rancho Cordova. The Level 4 competitors qualify for state without having to compete in the Zone Championships, and just need an all-around score of 34 or above during the Competitive Season. Marissa Opray barely missed qualifying by a few tenths of a point, but had a great season for her first year competing.
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Story prepared by Melinda Lawrence
