WINNIPEG, Can.- U.S. Rhythmic National Champion Jessica Howard of Jacksonville, Fla., lost the individual all-around gold medal to Canada’s Emilie Livingston by just one-thousandth of a point in the finals competition which took place today, August 8, at the Investors Group Arena.

Howard scored 38.264 just below Livingston’s 38.265. Cuban gymnast Yordania Corrales held the lead through the first two rotations, but took the bronze with a score of 38.256.
“It was just too close, but I am very happy with silver,” said Howard. “I knew coming in that it would be a difficult competition. I didn’t really know what to expect, so it is great to medal.”
“Jessica was so consistent the entire competition. We will now go back home and begin to prepare for the World Championships,” said Head Coach Efrossina Anguelova.

Kate Jeffress
of Rockville, Md., ranked second on the U.S. National Team, placed fifth after completing four strong routines. Jeffress scored 37.814.

Group Competition

The United States group team placed fourth of four teams in the finals competition. Brazil took the gold, followed by Cuba and Canada.

“We are not necessarily disappointed with our routines today, but we are upset with how the finals turned out,” said group member Lisa Welshinger

Results

Individual All-Around Finals
  1. Emilie Livingston, CAN, 38.265
  2. Jessica Howard, Jacksonville, Fla., 38.264
  3. Yordania Corrales, CUB, 38.256
  4. Erika Stirton, CAN, 38.147
  5. Katherine Jeffress, Rockville, Md., 37.814
  6. Aicela Rosado Martinez, MEX, 37.497
  7. Anahi Sosa, ARG, 37.482
  8. Rosana Marinoff, ARG, 37.381
Group Finals
  1. Brazil, 38.431
  2. Cuba, 37.732
  3. Canada, 37.532
  4. United States, 37.033 – (group members include: Katherine Betts, Syracuse, N.Y.; Stefanie Croyle, Boston, Mass.; Erin Jeffress, Rockville, Md.; Johanna Shoemaker, Minneapolis, Minn.; Lisa Welshinger, Bryan, Texas)