INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 5, 2008 – More than 700 of the USA’s top Level 9 and 10 gymnasts will compete in the 2009 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, May 6-10, at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event features competition in regional team, all-around and individual events.
The levels are determined by skill level, and Level 10 is split into two age groups, 14-15 years old and 16-18 years old. The Junior Olympic National Championships are a qualifier for Level 10 gymnasts to the Visa Championships (Aug. 12-15 in Dallas), where the national teams for both age groups are determined. The top gymnasts in Level 9 are named to the Junior Olympic National Team.
In addition to Cincinnati’s Queen City Gymnastics, the field includes several teams and gymnasts from Ohio: Gymnastics World, Broadview Heights; Integrity Gymnastics, Plain City; Ohio State University, Columbus; and Sunrise Gymnastics Academy, Sylvania. For a complete roster of participants, go to www.queencitygymnastics.com/2009jonationals.
The 2008 all-around champions were: Level 10, 16-18 – Glen Ishino, SCATS HB; Level 10, 14-15 – Danell Leyva, Universal; and Level 9 – Sean Melton, Orlando Metro. Melton is the only all-around champion returning to the Junior Olympic nationals.
The opening ceremony for the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships is May 6 at 7 p.m. Level 10 and Level 9 athletes compete on May 7 and 8, respectively, and each day has two sessions of individual event qualification, followed by regional team finals. Competition begins at 8:20 a.m. on May 7 and at 8:30 a.m. on May 8, with team finals at 5:30 and 6 p.m., respectively. All-around finals are May 9, with Level 10 (ages 14-15) at 10 a.m., Level 10 (ages 16-18) at 2:30 p.m. and Level 9 at 7:15 p.m. Concluding the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships are the individual event finals for all levels on May 10 at 12 p.m.
Tickets, which may be purchased at the Duke Energy Center, range from $14-17 for training sessions on May 6, and $14-17 for the Opening Ceremony. Single-day passes on competition days are $19 for adults, and $17 for senior citizens age 65 and older and for children ages 7-12. All-session ticket packages are $75 for adults, and $65 for senior citizens and children ages 7-12. Admission is free for children age 6 and younger. Discounted all-event passes are available on the event’s Web site.
To advance to the Junior Olympic National Championships, gymnasts competed in state and regional championships and qualified based on their all-around or multiple-event scores, or through regional allotment. For more information on the event, which is hosted by Queen City Gymnastics, click here.