ACAPULCO, Mexico, Nov. 28, 2013 – The USA won both the men’s and women’s team titles, as well as swept the top two spots in the women’s and men’s all-around, at the International Junior Mexican Cup in Acapulco, Mexico. Bailie Key of Montgomery, Texas/Texas Dreams, and Lauren Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./MG Elite, went one-two in the women’s all-around, and Kiwan Watts of N. Chesterfield, Va./Above the Bar Gymnastics Academy, and Alec Yoder of Indianapolis/InterActive Academy, took the top two spots, respectively, for the men. The U.S. Women’s and Men’s Teams handily won the respective team titles. Tomorrow, competition continues with the first of two days of all-around competition in the Mexican Open.
The U.S. women took the team title by scoring a total of 169.367 points. Brazil was second at 150.834, followed by Mexico at 149.232. The U.S. men earned 241.451 points to win the team competition. Colombia was second at 231.200, with Mexico in third at 220.316.
Key won the all-around with a total of 56.901 points, followed by teammate Hernandez at 56.567. Although the USA’s Emily Gaskins of Coral Springs, Fla./Cincinnati Gymnastics, and Veronica Hults of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, posted the third (54.466) and fourth (51.999) highest scores, respectively, Brazil’s Milena Martins was third because of the maximum of two athletes per country in the all-around.
In the men’s all-around, Watts posted a 80.900 to clinch the title. Yoder was second at 80.434. Colombia’s Andrés Martínez was third at 78.083. John Jacobson of Syracuse, Utah/USA Gymnastics World, and Yul Moldauer of Arvada, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, also competed on the men’s team, but their individual scores were not available as of press time.
Josh Dixon of Mountain View, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center, Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, and Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, Minn./Twin City Twisters, will represent the USA in the Mexican Open. Friday’s competition features the women’s vault and uneven bars and the men’s floor, pommel horse and still rings. On Saturday, the women will perform on the balance beam and floor exercise, while the men wrap up competition on the vault, parallel bars and high bar.
The USA also has men and women competing in Stuttgart, Germany, this weekend in the DTB Challenge Cup and World Cup.
On Friday, Nov. 29, the U.S. Men’s Team of Akash Modi of Morganville, N.J./Monmouth Gymnastics, Eddie Penev of Penfield, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (Stanford Boys Gymnastics), Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Gymnastics Development Center II), and Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./U.S. Olympic Training Center, gets underway with team qualification at DTB Cup – Team Challenge in Germany. The top four teams advance to Saturday’s finals.
Defending champion Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes, and 2012 Olympian John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), will compete on Saturday, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, respectively, in the DTB World Cup, which is part of the International Gymnastics Federation’s all-around World Cup series.
Results
Women’s All-Around:
1. Bailie Key (USA) 56.901
2. Lauren Hernandez (USA) 56.567
— Emily Gaskins (USA) 54.466
— Vernica Hults (USA) 51.999
3. Milena Martins (BRA) 51.500
4. Nicolle Castro (MEX) 50.700
5. Raquel Silva (BRA) 50.166
6. Paulina Campos (MEX) 48.966
Men’s All-Around:
1. Kiwan Watts (USA) 80.900
2. Alec Yoder (USA) 80.434
3. Andrés Martínez (COL) 78.083
4. Alberto Iriarte (COL) 75.616
5. Red Francisco (MEX) 74.450
6. Arturo Juarez (MEX) 71 633
Men’s Team
1. USA – 241.451
2. Colombia – 231.200
3. Mexico – 220.316
Women’s Team
1. USA – 169.367
2. Brazil – 150.834
3. Mexico 1 – 149.232
4. Mexico 2 – 138.932