GLASGOW, Scotland, Oct. 5, 2008 – The women’s pair of DeShey Eisenmenger and Hayley Lemmons, both of Boerne, Texas/Boerne Gymnastics Center, won the silver medal in the 11-16 year-old division at the 2008 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competition in Glasgow, Scotland. 2008 U.S. mixed pair champions Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues, both of Livermore, Calif./West Coast Training Center, will compete in the 2008 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships, Oct. 10-12.
Eisenmenger and Lemmons qualified into finals in second place with a score of 56.400 after their balance and dynamic routines. Competing last in the finals, the duo performed a clean routine with an execution score of 9.40 and an artistry score of 9.05 for a final score of 28.450. Russia won the gold medal with a score of 28.750, and Great Britain claimed the bronze medal with a score of 28.250.
The women’s group of Ashley Hargis of Kearney, Mo., Chelcea Riegel of Kearney, Mo., and Krissy Weidmaier of Holt, Mo., all of Rising Star Acrobatic Club, finished fifth in the 11-16 year-old division with a score of 28.050. The trio qualified into finals in fifth place with a combined score of 55.750. Russia, Great Britain and Belgium claimed the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The women’s group of Jillian Giblin of San Ramon, Calif., Maren Focke Rey of Rockville, Calif., and Katie Rodgess of Livermore, Calif., all of West Coast Training Center, placed eighth in the 12-19 year-old division with a score of 27.750. They qualified into finals in fifth place with a score of 55.750 after their balance and dynamic routines. Russia won gold, followed by Great Britain and Belarus in second and third, respectively.
Also competing at the World Age Group Competition but not advancing to finals were: 11-16 year-old women’s group – Nora Connors of Bethesda, Md., Kendall Meyer of Silver Spring, Md., and Erica Prestipino of Rockville, Md., all of Xtreme Acro and Cheer; 11-16 year-old women’s pair – Hannah Douglas of Tracy, Calif., and Kristin Metzler of Pleasanton, Calif., both of West Coast Training Center; 12-19 year-old women’s group – Hannah Busha, Steffi Scheid and Mariah Spray of Livermore, Calif./West Coast Training Center; 12-19 year-old men’s pair – Cameron Carlson of San Ramon, Calif., and Brandon McCallum of Livermore, Calif., both of West Coast Training Center; and 12-19 year-old mixed pair of Kyle Bloom and Madeline Bones of San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics.
Acrobatic gymnastics, previously referred to as sport acrobatics, combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Gymnastics skills add excitement to the routines, while intense acrobatic balances show grace, strength and flexibility. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a balance, dynamic and combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the dynamic routine. The combined routine unites elements of balance and dynamic.
An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of a base, middle and top partner, while a men’s group has a base, two middle partners and one top partner. Bases generally are older athletes who display strength and balance and top partners generally are younger athletes who display flexibility and agility. Middle partners often are required to show a combination of all attributes.
2008 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competition
Glasgow, Scotland
Oct. 5, 2008
Final results
11-16 year-old division
Women’s pair
1. Samarina, Vikhryanova, Russia, 28.750
2. DeShay Eisenmenger, Hayley Lemmons, USA, 28.450
3. Cook, Stephens, Great Britain, 28.250
Women’s group
1. Emelyanova, Fazlyeva, Islamova, Russia, 29.000
2. Burgon, Matthews, Seabourne, Great Britain, 28.800
3. De Vos, De Vos, Teirlinck, Belgium, 28.450
U.S. finish
5. Hargis, Reigel, Weidmaier, USA, 28.050
12-19 year-old division
Women’s group
1. Belichko, Kuznetsova, Ternovykh, Russia, 29.000
2. Burfield, McGrath, Smith, Great Britain, 28.850
3. Dudkouskaya, Khrypach, Usmanova, Belarus, 28.750
U.S. finish
8. Jillian Giblin, Maren Focke Rey, Katie Rodgess, USA, 27.750