Top Athletes Tumble Into San Antonio For U.S. Classic

Indianapolis – More than 100 of the nation’s top women’s gymnasts tumble into the San Antonio area May 29-June 1 for the 2003 U.S. Classic at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Helotes.
The U.S. Classic, featuring Junior and Senior elite gymnasts, is the second of two qualifiers for the 2003 U.S. National Championships, June 19-22 in Milwaukee. The U.S. Nationals is particularly important in 2003 as it serves as the only route for U….

May 21, 2003

Indianapolis – More than 100 of the nation’s top women’s gymnasts tumble into the San Antonio area May 29-June 1 for the 2003 U.S. Classic at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Helotes.

The U.S. Classic, featuring Junior and Senior elite gymnasts, is the second of two qualifiers for the 2003 U.S. National Championships, June 19-22 in Milwaukee. The U.S. Nationals is particularly important in 2003 as it serves as the only route for U.S. athletes seeking to represent the United States at the 2003 Pan American Games, Aug. 1-17 in Santo Domingo or the 2003 World Championships, Aug. 16-24 in Anaheim.

“The U.S. Classic is very important for the U.S. gymnasts,” said USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi. “With the World Championships and Pan American Games being held in just two months, we expect all of the athletes to be well prepared and ready to impress by this point in the season.”

Top Texas athletes expected to compete include 2001 World Championships Team alternate Brittney Koncak (McQueeney/Harris Unlimited), 2003 Visa American Cup champion Carly Patterson (Allen/WOGA), 2002 bars and beam Jr. National Champion Hollie Vise (Dallas/WOGA), 2003 American Classic Jr. all-around champion Nastia Liukin (Plano/WOGA), and 2003 American Classic vault bronze medalist Susan Jackson (Houston/Brown’s).

Recent U.S. Classic Sr. Champions include World Championships bronze medalist Annia Hatch in 2002 and reigning U.S. national champion Tasha Schwikert in 2001. Patterson won the Junior division in 2001 and 2002.

Also on the schedule is the U.S. Challenge on Sun., June 1, a pre-elite competition for athletes seeking to move up to the elite level.

Following is the schedule of major events:

Friday, May 30 Junior International Competition 1-4 p.m.
Senior International Competition 7-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 31 Team Cup 7-9 p.m.
(Top 12 Seniors and top 12 Juniors from Friday’s competition)
Sunday, June 1 Challenge Competition 1-4 p.m.
(National level elite competitors)

Sandra Day O’Connor High School is located at 12221 Leslie Rd. in Helotes. For ticket information and a detailed schedule, contact Harris Unlimited Gymnastics School at (210) 496-0408, or log on to www.hugsgym.com