INDIANAPOLIS, July 10, 2017 – Elena Arenas of Athens, Ga./Georgia Elite, and Leanne Wong of Blue Springs, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, won the senior and junior all-around titles, respectively, over the weekend at the American Classic at the USA Gymnastics National Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.
Arenas claimed the senior all-around title with her 53.150. Leah Clapper of Ann Arbor, Mich./Gym America, finished second at 52.100, followed by Abigail Walker of Carrollton, Texas/Texas Dreams, in third (51.700). Arenas and Clapper earned all-around berths to the P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 17-20 in Anaheim, Calif., with Walker advancing on vault (12.950), uneven bars (13.500), and balance beam (13.300), matching the required three-event qualifying score of 39.750.
Trinity Thomas of York, Pa./Prestige Gymnastics, placed first on uneven bars (14.150). Jade Carey of Phoenix/Oasis, posted the highest scores for vault (14.700), balance beam (14.050), and floor exercise (14.050).
Wong’s 54.500 won the junior all-around title. Anya Pilgrim of Germantown, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, finished second at 54.000, and Annie Beard of Dallas/Texas Dreams, rounded out the top-three with a 53.500.
The 16 additional juniors who reached the 50.500 qualifying score for the P&G Championships are: Audrey Davis, Frisco, Texas/WOGA; Kayla Di Cello, Boyds, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics; Tori Tatum, Chanhassen, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Grace McCallum, Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Madeleine Johnston, Boyds, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics; Madelyn Williams, Vacaville, Calif./San Mateo; Shilese Jones, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics; Ciena Alipio, San Jose, Calif./West Valley; Lillian Lippeatt, Mason, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics; Olivia Hollingsworth, Seabrook, Texas/Stars Gymnastics; Jordan Bowers, Lincoln, Neb./Solid Rock Gymnastics; Kara Eaker, Grain Valley, Mo./ GAGE; JaFree Scott, Independence, Mo./GAGE; Sienna Robinson, Las Vegas/Brown’s Gymnastics; Victoria Smirnov, Hickory, N.C./Shooting Stars; and Love Birt, Wyoming, Del./First State.
Women’s gymnastics has several paths for athletes to qualify to the P&G Championships, including by earning at least a 52.000 for seniors or a 50.500 for juniors in the all-around at either the American Classic or U.S. Classic. Senior athletes can also qualify by earning a three-event score of 39.750 or a two-event score of 27.000 at either of these two events.
Team members and alternates for the 2016 Olympic Games are automatically qualified to the P&G Championships. Additionally, national team members can earn a berth to the P&G Championships by achieving the qualification score at a national team camp verification or international assignment.
Tickets for the U.S. Classic and P&G Championships are on sale now. For more information, go to usagym.org/events.