BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 6, 2016 – Region I and Region III captured the junior elite Level 8 and Level 9 team titles, respectively, at the 2016 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Mich.

In Level 8, Region I posted a total of 245.150, followed by Region III (241.700) and Region VII (238.200). Region III scored 253.050 to take the Level 9 title with Region VIII (251.100) and Region I (249.700) finishing second and third, respectively.

Competition resumes tomorrow with Level 10 junior elite athletes performing technical sequences to name the all-around and individual event champions. Then, the Junior Olympic Level 10 gymnasts will compete in their second day of optional routines.

The following athletes, who will perform technical sequences on Sunday to complete their competition, posted the top Level 8 and 9 scores in the all-around for each Junior Elite age group.

  • Level 8, 11 year olds: Joshua Karnes of Lakers Gymnastics, 82.350
  • Level 8, 12 year olds: Landon Wu of International Gymnastics Centre, 81.550
  • Level 9, 13 year olds: Samuel Phillips of Gymnastics Olympica, 82.450
  • Level 9, 14 year olds: Justin Ah Chow of Universal Gymnastics, 83.750

After the first of two days of Level 8 and 9 Junior Olympic division competition, the leaders are as follows.

  • Level 8, 11 year olds: Max Ford of Deveau’s School of Gymnastics, 75.250
  • Level 8, 12 year olds: Matthew Romalia of 5280 Gymnastics, 78.850
  • Level 9, 13 year olds: Cannon Johnson of U.S. Gymnastics Dev. Center, 79.350
  • Level 9, 14 year olds: Sam Roach of Yellow Jackets Gymnastics, 81.350

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 men’s medal-winning 2004 (silver) and 2008 (bronze) U.S. Olympic Teams, as well as the 2012 Olympic Team, are former Junior Olympic National Championships participants. Past participants include Paul Hamm, 2004 Olympic all-around champion; Jonathan Horton, 2008 Olympic horizontal bar silver medalist and 2010 World all-around bronze medalist; and Danell Leyva, 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist.