LONG BEACH, Calif., May 7, 2011 – Sean Melton of Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro, won the Level 10 14-15 all-around title at the 2011 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships at the Long Beach (Calif.) Arena. The all-around competition concludes later today for Level 9 (12-13) and Level 10 (16-18), with the Levels 9 and 10 individual event finals on May 8.
Melton, who was the Level 9 all-around champion last year, earned a total of 176.850 to capture the gold medal. Akash Modi of Morganville, N.J./Monmouth Gymnastics Academy, was second at 172.200. The bronze medal went to Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Swiss Turners, who earned a 171.300 total. All three medalists advanced to five of the six event finals, missing the horizontal bar competition. Melton had the top two-day score for pommel horse (29.400), vault (32.400), and parallel bars (29.650). Kimble had the highest two-day score for still rings (29.900). The top 36 in the all-around prelims advanced to the finals and scores from both days counted equally for the all-around. Scores do not carry over to the individual event finals.
To see the list of all individual event finalists and complete results, go to www.2011jomen.com.
The levels are determined by age and skill level. Level 10 is split into two age groups, 14-15 years old and 16-18 years old, while Level 9 has only 12-13 years old. The Junior Olympic National Championships are a qualifier for Level 10 gymnasts to advance to the Visa Championships (Aug. 17-20 in Saint Paul, Minn.), where the national teams for both age groups are determined. The top gymnasts in Level 9 are named to the Junior Olympic National Team.
The competition schedule is: May 7, all-around finals and individual event semifinals –Level 10 (ages 16-18) at 2:30 p.m. and Level 9 at 7:15 p.m. Concluding the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships are the individual event finals for all levels on May 8 at 12 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at the Long Beach Arena. Several different ticket options are available: all week passes – children 5-15, seniors (55+) and active military immediate family for $70, and adults for $80; and competition days (May 7-8) – children 5-15, seniors (55+) and active military immediate family for $20, and adults for $25. All children ages four and under are admitted free. ID is required for age-specific and military rates. Tickets are cash or check only..
Azarian US Gymnastics Training Center is the host club for the Junior Olympic Championships. The meet co-directors are Tim and Melany Klempnauer and Roger and Debbie Baldwin.
The U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships is one of the national championships of USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body in the United States. Many Junior Olympic champions have gone on to make the U.S. National Team and represent the United States in international competition and/or to compete in collegiate gymnastics. All of the members of the medal winning 2004 (silver) and 2008 (bronze) U.S. Olympic Teams are past Junior Olympic National Championships participants, including Paul Hamm, 2004 Olympic all-around champion, and Jonathan Horton, 2008 Olympic horizontal bar silver medalist and 2010 World all-around bronze medalist.