COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 16, 2009 – Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles/Eurogymnastics and Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, won the senior and junior all-around, respectively, at the 2009 Rhythmic Challenge on Feb. 15 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
In the senior division, Marmer posted a score of 89.108, followed by Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, in second with an 84.892 and Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, in third with an 81.283.
Sereda posted an 82.825 to win the junior all-around. Jazzy Kerber of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, and Polina Kozitsky of Fountainville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, finished second and third, respectively, with scores of 78.425 and 78.008.
Eleven seniors and six juniors participated in the Rhythmic Challenge, which was the first national competition of 2009 and the first round of selection for this year’s international assignments. The seniors competed in rope, hoop, ball and ribbon, while the juniors competed in rope, hoop, ball and clubs.
The Rhythmic Invitational, a competition for Levels 7-10, was held Feb. 12-14 in conjunction with the Rhythmic Challenge. Full results from both competitions are posted on www.usa-gymnastics.org.
2009 Rhythmic Challenge
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Feb. 15, 2009
Senior
1. Rachel Marmer, Los Angeles, Calif./Eurogymnastics, 89.108
2. Ava Gehringer, Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 84.892
3. Julie Zetlin, Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, 81.283
4. Michelle Milstein, Eagan, Minn./International Gymnastics of Minnesota, 78.567
5. Rebecca Wallenstein, Point Verda, Fla./World Rhythmics, 72.833
6. JoAnna Arnold, Northville, Mich./North Shore Rhythmic, 72.675
7. Gabriella Magid, Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora, 70.425
8. Sarah Kudishevich, Eden Prairie, Minn./International Gymnastics of Minnesota, 69.121
9. Anastasia Torba, Orinda, Calif./Allegro Rhythmic, 68.967
10. Nicole Chillingworth, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif./Eurogymnastics, 68.383
11. Katherine Scarnechia, Lancaster, Calif./North Shore Rhythmic, 59.450
Junior
1. Rebecca Sereda, Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, 82.825
2. Jazzy Kerber, Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 78.425
3. Polina Kozitsky, Fountainville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, 78.008
4. Cindy Lu, Blaine, Minn./Twin Cities Rhythmic, 72.033
5. Olga Pavlenko, Flushing, N.Y./Isadora, 70.100
6. Jessica Bogdanov, Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora, 68.342