Kalon Ludvigson
© FIG

BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 18, 2011 – Three members of the U.S. trampoline and tumbling team qualify for individual finals as the U.S. women’s double-mini trampoline and tumbling teams and the men’s double-mini trampoline team also advance to the finals at the 2011 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Birmingham, England.

Members competing in the individual finals are Kalon Ludvgison of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution, Kristie Lowell of Orland Park, Ill./5 Star Tumbling and Trampoline, and Austin White of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics. The U.S. women’s individual trampoline team competes later today in the team final, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Ludvigson, the 2011 World Cup series tumbling champion, qualified to the men’s tumbling final in third position after totaling 74.900 points for his two passes. Ludvigson trails only China’s Yang Song and Zhang Lou. Fellow American Alex Renkert of Indianapolis/InterActive Academy, earned a combined score of 63.700 to finish 25th.

All four of Team USA’s men’s double-mini trampoline competitors finished in the top ten, helping the team qualify in second position to the team final. White was the highest finisher for the U.S., earning fifth place with a 71.700 two-pass total. Ludvigson finished just below White in sixth with a 71.600. Both advance to the double-mini final. Ryan Roberts of Ramona, Calif./Branch Gymnastics, finished with a 71.300 in seventh place but will miss the final due to the two per country rule. Teammate Trey Katz of Charleston, Ill./Sun Elite Athletic Club, rounded out Team USA’s efforts with his 70.500 total and ninth place.

In the women’s double-mini trampoline qualification, Lowell finished eighth with a two-pass total of 67.500, which qualified her to Sunday’s final. The U.S. team, which advanced to the team final in fourth place, consisted of Erin Jauch of Crystal Lake, Ill./Fox Valley Tumbling and Trampoline, who finished 11th with a score of 66.900; Erica Owen of Mission Viejo, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, who earned 64.300 points and a 18th place finish; and Marina Moskalenko of Orland, Fla./Stick It Gymnastics, whose 33.900 total earned 30th place.

Moskalenko earned a 62.600 in the women’s tumbling qualification round, leading the Americans to a place in the team final competition. Moskalenko finished in 10th place and is the first reserve athlete for the women’s tumbling final. American teammates Natalya Beneschott of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution, finished 19th with a score of 60.300; and Kaylah Whaley of Knoxville, Tenn./Premiere Athletics Knoxville North, earned 55.700 points for 23rd place.