BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26, 2021 – The synchronized trampoline pair of William Cockrill of Plano, Texas/Flip Factory and Kai Lawson of Bethesda, Md./Dynamite Gymnastics were golden Friday, taking the top spot in men’s 13-14 synchronized trampoline at the 2021 Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Baku, Azerbaijan. Teammates Leah Edelman of Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy and Isabella Pansano of Round Rock, Texas/World Champions Centre earned bronze in the women’s 13-14 synchro division, while Dominic Dumas of Lubbock, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy claimed bronze in men’s 17-21 tumbling.
After qualifying in fourth, Cockrill and Lawson notched a 46.470 in the final to lead all scorers. Pairs from the Russian Gymnastics Federation (45.930) and Great Britain (45.770) were second and third. Xavier Harper of Oak Ridge, Tenn./Premier Athletics Knoxville and Micah Miner of Glen Carbon, Ill./Kris Power Tumbling finished 13th with a 17.870.
On the women’s side, Pansano and Edelman (44.790) took the bronze medal behind the Russian Gymnastics Federation (46.760) and Georgia (45.250). The pair of Ava DeHanes of Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy and Alexandra Mytnik of Manalapan, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy were 11th with a 40.750.
Dumas led all U.S. competitors in 17-21 tumbling, delivering a 35.400 en route to the bronze medal in the men’s division. Igor Shikunov of the Russian Gymnastics Federation (36.200) topped the podium, while Mads Hansen of Denmark (35.500) edged Dumas for the silver by a tenth of a point. Alex Balinbin of Kenner, La./Elmwood Gymnastics Academy finished seventh with a 33.300. Dylan McGuire of Midlothian, Texas/Trevino’s Gymnastics was ninth with a 65.100, while Rafael Bryant of Worthington, Ohio/Integrity Athletics was 11th with a 63.200.
Ashley McDonald of Lindon, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling (32.700) finished sixth in women’s 17-21 tumbling after qualifying in second. Kaylee Larson of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics was 11th with a 62.500, and Susan Gill of Frisco, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy was 14th with a 61.000. France’s Manon Morancais (34.700) claimed gold. Demi Adams of Great Britain (34.100) and Alexandra Efraimoglou of Greece (33.800) were second and third, respectively.
U.S. gymnasts were also in action in the 15-16 individual trampoline divisions. Ryan Mccagnan of Colorado Springs, Colo./Stars Gymnastics finished sixth in men’s trampoline with a 55.225 after qualifying in fourth. Gavin Britton of Bennington, Neb./Premier Gymnastics was 23rd with a 92.800, while Aaron Remole of Thomasville, N.C./Carolina Elite Trampoline Academy (89.825) and Luke Davis of Chatham, Ill./Kris Power Tumbling (85.060) finished 29th and 34th. Leah Garafalo of Cream Ridge, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy led U.S. trampolinists in the women’s division, earning a top-ten finish with a 93.580. Logan McCoy of Middletown, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy was 17th with a 91.620, and Ava Hernando of Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy was 25th with an 89.795.
Portugal’s Gabriel Albuquerque (57.955), Japan’s Taiga Akaishi (55.965) and Great Britain’s Tyler Cole-Dyer (55.885) took top honors for the men. Anzhela Bladtceva of the Russian Gymnastics Federation secured gold with a 53.340, while Kokone Harima (52.505) and Kiko Tanaka (52.315) – both of Japan – rounded out the women’s individual trampoline podium.
Competition at the Milli Gimnastika Arenasi continues tomorrow with men’s and women’s 17-21 individual trampoline, 15-16 synchro and 13-14 double mini, beginning at 10 a.m. Baku time.