BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25, 2021 – Alexandra Mytnik of Manalapan, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy took the top spot in the women’s 13-14 individual trampoline final, and teammate Ava DeHanes of Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy claimed bronze on the first day of the 2021 Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan. Mytnik’s 53.090 led all competitors, while Sofiia Aliaeva of the Russian Gymnastics Federation (51.645) edged DeHanes (51.090) for the silver medal after the Americans qualified to the event final in the fourth and sixth positions, respectively. Leah Edelman of Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy (91.245) and Isabella Pansano of Round Rock, Texas/World Champions Centre (85.680) were also in action, finishing 13th and 24th.

On the men’s side, the U.S. was led by Micah Miner of Glen Carbon, Ill./Kris Power Tumbling, who took 19th with a 90.700. Kai Lawson of Bethesda, Md./Dynamite Gymnastics (90.350) finished just behind him in 21st. Xavier Harper of Oak Ridge, Tenn./Premier Athletics Knoxville was 25th with an 89.010, and William Cockrill of Plano, Texas/Flip Factory was 41st with a 51.435. Azerbaijan’s Magsud Mahsudov took gold with a 56.200, while Vitalii Chiviaga (54.630) and Lev Busarev (54.345), both of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, rounded out the top three.

U.S. athletes finished just off the podium in the 17-21 double mini trampoline competitions. After qualifying in first and third, Grace Harder of Winston Salem, N.C./Carolina Elite Trampoline Academy (64.900) and Cammie Cooper of Knoxville, Tenn./Tennessee Elite Gymnastics (62.500) took sixth and eighth in the women’s final. Susan Gill of Frisco, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy was 19th with a 62.900. The Russian Gymnastics Federation’s Alena Kalashnikova (67.800) and Veronika Tugarina (65.900) notched first and third, while Spain’s Erica Sanz was second with a 65.900.

Hunter Moravec of Downers Grove, Ill./Elite Sports Complex (71.700) and Weston Sitz of Prosper, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy (70.900) qualified to the men’s event final in the third and sixth positions but finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The Russian Gymnastics Federation secured a clean sweep of the men’s 17-21 double mini trampoline podium behind top-scoring performances from Egor Glushenko (75.700), Ivan Akimtsev (73.200) and Anton Litvin (71.900).

U.S. tumblers between the ages of 15-16 also took the floor on Day 1 of competition. Nastia Katchalova of Lakeland, Fla./Elite World Gymnastics, who sat third after qualifications, led a trio of U.S. gymnasts into the event final. Katchalova finished seventh with a 27.900. Teammates Jill Papenhause of Tremont, Ill./Central Illinois Gymnastics Academy (31.500) and Rosalie Thongphay of San Tan Valley, Ariz./USA Youth Fitness Center (31.300) were fifth and sixth. The Russian Gymnastics Federation’s Arina Kaliandra (34.100) took the top spot followed by Great Britain’s Naana Oppon (34.000) and Comfort Yeates (33.300).

In the men’s competition, BJ Mensah of New York, N.Y./Cavu Trampoline and Tumbling posted the top American finish. He was 13th with a 64.000. Alexander Cole of Washington, D.C./Dynamite Gymnastics took 19th with a 61.600, while Cristian Orth of San Diego, Calif./SoCal TTC was 22nd with a 60.600. Dmitrii Shatalov (36.500) added another gold for the Russian Gymnastics Federation. Denmark’s Frederik Skaaning (35.000) and Great Britain’s Fred Teague (34.100) rounded out the podium.

The U.S. will field teams for the men’s and women’s 15-16 individual trampoline, 17-21 tumbling and 13-14 synchronized trampoline competitions Friday, as the action continues at Milli Gimnastika Arenasi, beginning at 10 a.m. local time.