INDIANAPOLIS, May 7, 2021 – Five-time U.S. all-around champion Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center will look for her third consecutive top-12 all-around finish at the Baku (Azerbaijan) World Cup May 7-9 at Milli Gimnastika Arenas. Zeng has also reached back-to-back hoop and ball finals.
Pan American Games all-around gold medalist Evita Griskenas of Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center and the Senior National Group will join Zeng in representing the U.S. at the third World Cup Series event of the season. The Senior National Group, comprised of Izzy Connor of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Camilla Feeley of Wheeling, Ill., Liza Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Lili Mizuno of Northbrook, Ill., Elizaveta Pletneva of Wheeling, Ill., and Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill. – all of North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center – will make its 2021 international debut in Baku.
Griskenas and Zeng will compete with Group A. Friday’s hoop and ball sessions will begin at 2 a.m. ET, and the clubs and ribbon qualifications are set for Saturday at 3:50 a.m. ET. Hoop and ball finals will take place Sunday at 4 a.m. ET with clubs and ribbon at 6:15 a.m. ET. The Senior National Group will compete in the qualification rounds for five ball Friday at 12:15 p.m. ET and three hoops and two pairs of clubs Saturday at 1:15 p.m. ET. Apparatus finals will take place Sunday at 5:10 a.m. ET and 7:25 a.m. ET, respectively.