SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 21, 2019 – At today’s Hopes Classic at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Carsyn Coleman of Anaheim Hills, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, won the 10-11-year-old division’s all-around title. In the 12-13-year old division, there was a three-way tie for the gold between Katelyn Jong of Allen, Texas/Metroplex, Michelle Pineda of Dallas, Texas/Metroplex, and Paityn Walker of Hercules, Calif./Head Over Heels.

Tomorrow, senior national teammates Sloane Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, the 2019 Gymnix International balance beam silver medalist, and Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, the 2019 Jesolo Trophy all-around champion, are among the elite gymnasts who will take to the floor tomorrow at the 2019 American Classic. USA Gymnastics will be will live-stream both American Classic sessions on its YouTube Channel.

The juniors compete at 10:15 a.m. and the seniors at 1:45 p.m. MT. Tickets are still available for the American Classic, and tickets range from $10-$20 and includes both sessions. Ticket prices vary according to seat locations. To purchase tickets, visit utahtickets.com or call 801-581-UTIX.

Coleman won the 10-11-year-old division’s all-around title with a 49.450. Zoey Molomo of Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, was second at 48.900, with Ella Parker of West Monroe, La./North East Texas Elite, and Ly Bui of Swisher, Iowa/IGN, tying for third (48.750). The individual event champions were: Izzy Stassi of North Royalton, Ohio/Five-Star Gymnastics Academy, vault (13.400) and uneven bars (12.050); Parker, balance beam (12.800); and Molomo, floor exercise (12.400).

In the 12-13-year-old division, Jong, Pineda and Walker tied for the title with a 51.100 all-around score. The individual event champions were: Rebekah Smith of Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre, vault (13.550); Jong, uneven bars (13.300); Pineda, Kaela Yee of Miami, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, and Lucy Tobia of Schnecksville, Pa./Parkettes, balance beam (13.100); and Ava San Jose of Northridge, Calif./Paramount Elite, floor exercise (12.800).

The Hopes classification is just below the elite level. The top 17 athletes in the all-around in the 10-11 age group and the top 18 in the 12-13 age group have advanced to the Hopes Championships. The Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season and scheduled for July 19.

U.S. Junior National Team member Ciena Alipio of San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, who claimed the balance beam silver at the 2019 Jesolo Trophy, and last year’s American Classic all-around silver-medalist Shania Adams of Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, are expected to compete in the American Classic junior session.

The two competitions are qualifiers for women’s gymnastics: the American Classic for the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in August; and the Hopes Classic for the Hopes Championships, held in conjunction with the GK U.S. Classic in July in Louisville, Ky.

Women’s gymnastics has several ways athletes can qualify to the U.S. Championships, including by earning a minimum of 52.000 for seniors or a 51.000 for juniors in the all-around at either the American Classic or GK U.S. Classic. The GK U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 20 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., is the final opportunity for women to advance to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. 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 from the 2018 U.S. World Championships Team automatically qualified to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. In addition to the U.S. and American Classics, national team members can earn a berth to the U.S. Championships by achieving the qualification score at a national team verification or international assignment.

Background information

  • Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Jon M. Huntsman Arena on the University of Utah campus is one of Salt Lake City’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Home of the university’s Runnin’ Utes basketball team, as well as the Red Rocks women’s gymnastics team, the venue has hosted a number of different sporting events, concerts, commencement exercises and other special events. The venue hosted the 1979 NCAA Final Four Tournament and the 1989 Western Athletic Conference. It is the largest arena in the Pac-12 conference system and in 2019, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  • USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its athlete safety policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.