TAKASAKI, Japan, Sept. 28, 2018 – The United States advanced to the team and all-around finals at the 2018 Aeon Cup at Takasaki (Japan) Arena. In the team competition, the USA was third in the preliminary round. In the all-around, Evita Griskenas of Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and Camila Feeley of Highland Park, Ill/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center. were fourth and sixth, respectively, in the preliminary all-around rankings. Lennox Hopkins-Wilkins of Puyallup, Wash., was fourth in the junior all-around preliminaries. Finals are scheduled for the weekend, Sept. 29-30.
In the team competition qualifying round, the USA posted a total of 188.400 for third. Israel posted a 204.150 for top honors, with Belarus in second at 203.000 for third. The three-gymnast totals for each event were: hoop, 45.700; ball, 48.300; clubs, 49.100; and ribbon, 45.300. The USA had the third-best team score for ball, clubs and ribbon.
In the senior all-around qualifying, Griskenas earned a 68.400 for fourth, with Feeley in sixth at 64.250. Their individual event scores were: Griskenas – hoop/16.750, ball/17.800, clubs/17.550 and ribbon/16.300; and Feeley – hoop/15.950, ball/17.150, clubs/16.350, and ribbon/14.800. Hopkins-Wilkins was also fourth in the junior all-around (hoop/13000, ball/13.350, clubs/15.200 and ribbon/14.200).
Belarus was first in qualifying for both the senior, Katsiaryna Halkina (75.450), and junior, Yana Striga (60.650), all-around. Israel was second for both the junior and senior all-around, Linoy Ashram as the senior (75.000) and Adi Asia Kats (57.800) as the junior, as well as third for the seniors, Nikoi Zelikman (71.350). Third in the junior all-around rankings was Norway’s Josephine Nordstad (56.050).