KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Olympian Blaine Wilson (Columbus, Ohio) earned the number one spot on the 1999 World Team this evening in Municipal Auditorium with a score of 57.455 in the World Team Trials. This year’s World Championships will mark Wilson’s third time representing the United States.
Joining Wilson on the United States World Team will be John Roethlisberger (Falcon Heights, Minnesota) who scored 55.413; Yewki Tomita (Tucson, Arizona) 54.770; Sean Townsend (Dallas, Texas) 54.723; and Chris Young (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) 54.588; and Stephen McCain (Houston, Texas) 54.560.
The United States World Team competes in Tianjin, China in the World Championships, October 9-16. The World Championships advance 12 countries to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Competition in the World Team Trials continues with the women’s finals on Saturday, September 18.
POST-COMPETITION QUOTES
Blaine Wilson
“I’m glad that this meet is over. I’m looking forward to China. We’re definitely going there to win a medal… and the potential is there because I don’t think we missed a lot of routines tonight. We looked really good.”
“I think the best team at Worlds will be China. They’re on their home turf.”
John Roethlisberger
“I’m really happy that it’s over. I more mentally exhausted than physically.”
Chris Young
“I just tried to believe in myself tonight. It was really fun and that is always the key for me. I think I will do well in China.”
Yewki Tomita
On the teams to beat at the World Championships… “Probably the host country, China. Also, Russia and Japan. It’s going to be a good competition.”
Sean Townsend
On the U.S. team chances… “This could be the team that brings home a medal.”
“I feel great! I just wanted to hit six routines tonight. This was one of my first major goals and now I have accomplished making the World Championships.”
Stephen McCain
“I’m ecstatic to make the World team.”
“I just knew if I kept my head together, I would have a good chance, but I knew it was going to be really close.””