WINNIPEG, Can.- U.S. individual and group rhythmic gymnasts placed themselves in contention for finals qualification after the first day of competition at the Investors Group Arena on the University of Manitoba campus.

Individual Competition

U.S. National Champion Jessica Howard of Jacksonville, Fla. is currently in fourth place after the first rotation, scoring 9.450 on both her rope and hoop routines. She performed two solid routines.
“My routines today were strong, but I have a lot of work to do in the next couple of days,” said Howard.

Kate Jeffress of Rockville, Md., ranked second on the U.S. National Team, scored a 9.433 on rope and a 9.166 on hoop since she dropped once. These scores put her in fifth place.
“I’m not unhappy with placing fifth, but I know I can do better. I was nervous, but I am hoping to perform stronger tomorrow,” Jeffress said.
Cuba’s Yordania Corrales is currently in first place after Rotation 1, scoring a 9.516 on her rope routine and a 9.616 on hoop. She is followed by Canada’s Emilie Livingston and Erika Leigh Stirton in second and third place, respectively.
Gymnasts finishing in the top eight after Friday and Saturday will advance to the individual all-around finals on Sunday.

Group Competition

The United States group team placed fourth out of five groups in competition today, scoring 18.216. However, they are not far behind the first place Brazilians who scored 18.833.
“We were happy with our club routine, but we expect to do better tomorrow,” said group member Stefanie Croyle of Rockville, Md.
The top four of five groups after qualification on Friday and Saturday will advance to the finals on Sunday. The groups will compete with the hoop & ribbon apparatus tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

Results

Individual All-Around Day 1 (Hoop and Rope)
  1. Yordania Corrales, CUB, 19.132
  2. Emilie Livingston, CAN, 18.966
  3. Erika Stirton, CAN, 18.948
  4. Jessica Howard, Jacksonville, Fla., 18.900
  5. Katherine Jeffress, Rockville, Md., 18.599
  6. Anahi Sosa, ARG, 18.574
  7. Aicela Rosado Martinez, MEX, 18.549
  8. Rosana Marinoff, ARG, 18.449
  9. Alice Sirangelo, BRA, 18.425
  10. Nadia Chacon Garcia, VEN, 18.208
  11. Elizabeth Veroes, VEN, 18.116
  12. Lilibet Arias Benitez, CUB, 17.998
  13. Michelle Salzano, BRA, 17.749
  14. Claudia Garcia, MEX, 17.741
  15. Eugenia Tambler, URU, 16.765
Group
  1. Brazil – 18.833
  2. Canada – 18.633
  3. Cuba – 18.333
  4. United States – 18.216 (Team members include: Katherine Betts, Syracuse, N.Y.; Stefanie Croyle, Boston, Mass.; Erin Jeffress, Rockville, Md.; Johanna Shoemaker, Minneapolis, Minn.; Lisa Welshinger, Bryan, Texas)
  5. Chile – 17.307

    Competition Schedule

    Saturday, August 7
    2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. – Individual All-Around Qualifying: Competition Rotation 2
    4:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. – Group Qualifying Competition: Exercise 2

    Sunday, August 8
    10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. – Individual All-Around Finals (2 apparatus)
    11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. – Group Final Competition- Exercise 1
    11:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. – Individual All-Around Finals (2 apparatus)
    12:45 p.m.- 1:15 p.m. – Group Final Competition- Exercise 2