PORTIMAO, Portugal, Sept. 8, 2019 – Camilla Feeley of Deerfield, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, won the bronze medal in the ribbon final at the Portimao (Portugal) World Challenge Cup at the Portimao Arena. The World Challenge Cup was the final tune-up to next week’s World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Feeley earned an 18.300 to snare the ribbon bronze. Italy’s Milena Baldassarri won the title at 20.250, with Ukraine’s Yeva Meleschuk claiming the silver with an 18.850. For hoop, Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics, posted a 20.650 for seventh. Italy’s Alexandra Agiurgiuculese won the hoop gold at 22.650. Belarus’ Anastasiia Salos was second at 21.500, with a four-way tie for third at 21.400 with Belarus’ Alina Harnasko, Russia’s Anastasiia Guzenkova, Baldassarri and Meleschuk. In the ball final, Zeng notched a 20.300 and seventh place. Italy’s Baldassarri and Agiurgiuculese took first and second, 22.300 and 22.000, respectively. Russia’s Aleksandra Soldatova, who won the all-around earlier, was third at 21.900. Zeng also was seventh in the clubs final with a 19.800. Agiurgiuculese grabbed her second gold at 22.500, slipping by her teammate Baldassarri’s 22.400. Salos was third at 21.850.

The U.S. group earned a 23.250 in the 5 balls final for seventh place. Italy won the event’s gold medal at 29.500. Japan grabbed second at 28.950 to edge out Belarus’ 28.900. In the 3 hoops/2 pairs of clubs final, the USA garnered at 22.400 for eighth. Belarus won the title at 28.950, and Italy was on their heels at 28.550. Japan was third with a 28.400.

The members of the U.S. group, which is based at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, are: Isabelle Connor, Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Connie Du, Deerfield, Ill.; Yelyzaveta Merenzon, Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Elizaveta Pletneva, Deerfield, Ill.; Nicole Sladkov, Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Kristina Sobolevskaya, Chicago.