Alex Renkert, Yuliya Hall, Austin White and Karly Judkins
© Ron Wyatt

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 12, 2010 – After the first day of qualification rounds, four U.S. gymnasts will compete in the finals at the 2010 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships at the Les Arenes Sports Complex in Metz, France. On Friday, Nov. 12, Yuliya Hall of Pocatello, Idaho, and Karly Judkins of Tulsa, Okla., will advance to the women’s tumbling finals, and Alex Renkert of Indianapolis, Ind., and Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif., will compete in the double mini-trampoline finals. Earlier in the day, Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., finished in 12th place in the men’s trampoline qualification and is the first reserve athlete for the finals. Qualification for men’s tumbling, women’s double mini and men’s and women’s synchronized trampoline are also scheduled for Friday.

White, who trains at World Elite, tied for the second highest score in the prelims at 73.000, but placed third due to a tie-breaker. White’s score included a 36.800 on the first pass and a 36.200 for the second. Renkert, who trains at Interactive Academy, was fourth in the prelims at 72.700 (36.600 for the first pass and 36.100 for the second). The USA’s Justin Hackett of Grand Rapids, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins, and Trey Katz of Charleston, Ill./Sun Elite Athletics, had the fifth and sixth best prelim scores but are ineligible for the finals due to the maximum two athletes per country rule. Portugal’s Andre Lico had the best qualification score at 74.000.

Hall, who trains at Team Revolution, earned a 61.400 total, with 31.600 on her first pass and 29.800 for the second. Judkins, who trains at Xtreme Elite, scored a 60.300 (30.500 for the first pass and 29.800 for the second). Russia’s Anna Korobeynikova claimed the highest prelim score.

Gluckstein missed the finals by a mere 0.400. Also in men’s trampoline, Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill./J&J Tumbling, posted a 70.400 to round out the top 20. Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Head Over Heels, finished 27th with a 68.600. Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, had an excellent compulsory routine but unfortunately had a mishap in his second routine. China’s Dong Dong had the highest prelim score.

In women’s trampoline, Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La./T&T Express, finished in 19th place with her 65.200 total. Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu/Hawaii Academy, and Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, both finished in the top 30. Shanelle Landry of Lafayette, La./Head Over Heels, did not compete due to a knee injury. China’s Huang Shanshan had the women’s top prelim score.

Competing in the preliminary rounds on Friday, Nov. 12, are: men’s tumbling – Kalon Ludvigson of Sterling, Utah/Team Revolution, Renkert and Brandon Sloan of Springfield, Va./Capital Gymnastics; women’s double mini – Mckenna Kurz of Encinitas, Calif./Bounce California, Sarah Prosen of Apple Valley, Minn./Gleason’s Gypsy Flyers, and Ashleigh Thomas of Issaquah, Wash./Gymnastics East; and men’s synchronized trampoline – Jeffrey Gluckstein and Devine, and Steven Gluckstein and Dooley.

The championships feature individual competition in trampoline, synchronized trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling. The top eight, with a maximum of two athletes per country, from each event’s qualification round advance to the finals. Preliminary scores do not carry over to the finals.

Finals begin Nov. 12 with men’s double-mini at 7:00 p.m., women’s tumbling at 7:30 p.m., women’s synchro at 8:15 p.m., and men’s trampoline at 8:45 p.m. The World Championships conclude on Nov. 13 with finals in women’s double-mini at 3:00 p.m., men’s tumbling at 3:30 p.m., men’s synchro at 4:15 p.m., and women’s trampoline at 4:45 p.m. All times are local in Metz.

The 2010 World Age Group Championships follow the World Championships in Metz, Nov. 14-19. 2009 World Age Group tumbling gold-medalist Kiara Nowlin of Oxnard, Calif./Waller’s GymJam Academy, headlines the U.S. team for the 2010 World Age Group Championships. For a complete list of World Age Group team members, click here.