ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Nov. 13, 2009 – 2009 World Cup gold-medalists Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., advanced to the synchronized trampoline finals at the 2009 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships at the St. Petersburg (Russia) Sports and Concert Complex. Later today, the United States will compete in men’s and women’s double mini-trampoline and women’s tumbling team finals.
Gluckstein and Dooley, who earlier this year earned the USA’s first World Cup men’s synchro gold, qualified in 10th place with a score of 82.800. Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill., and Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif., finished in 21st (48.900). Teams from Japan and Germany produced the top qualifying score of 89.800.
The U.S. women’s team of Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, and Alaina Williams, Amarillo, Texas, scored a 79.300, finishing in 11th place. They are the second reserve team for finals. Canada posted the top synchro qualifying score.
Tonight, the U.S. men’s and women’s double mini teams will compete for world medals. The men’s team includes 2007 team silver-medalists Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho, and Stephen Raymond of Orlando, Fla.; Tony Doles of Lubbock, Texas and White. Competing for the women are Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif.; Sarah Gandy of Reno, Texas; and Sarah Prosen of Apple Valley, Minn. Balkan was a member of the 2007 double mini team that claimed the team bronze medal.
The U.S. women’s tumbling team includes two members of the 2007 gold-medal team, Kaitlin Tortorich of Haymarket, Va., and Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va., and 2005 team silver-medalist Amy McDonald of McKinney, Texas.
Qualification round scores do not carry forward into the final round. The World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships continue through Nov. 14.
2009 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships
St. Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex
St. Petersburg, Russia
Nov. 13, 2009
Qualification results
Q=Qualified for finals; top 8 finishers with max of one per country; number in parens indicates if a country had more than one team and was used for placement in the draw
R=Reserve
Synchronized trampoline qualification round
Men
1. Japan (2), 89.800 Q
2. Germany (1), 89.800 Q
3. China, 89.700 Q
4. Japan (1), 89.100
5. France, 87.900 Q
6. Ukraine (2), 87.700 Q
7. Poland (1), 86.600 Q
8. Russia (2), 85.300 Q
9. Ukraine (1), 85.100
10. United States (2) – Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., 82.800 Q
Other U.S. finish
21. United States (1) – Michael Devine, Winnebago, Ill., and Austin White, Newport Coast, Calif., 48.900
Women
1. Canada (2), 87.800 Q
2. China, 87.100 Q
3. Ukraine (1), 86.600 Q
4. Russia (2), 84.900 Q
5. Uzbekistan, 84.000 Q
6. Netherlands, 82.700 Q
7. France, 81.900 Q
8. Canada (1), 79.500
9. Great Britain, 79.400 Q
U.S. finish
11. United States – Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, and Alaina Williams, Amarillo, Texas, 79.300 R
Competition schedule
Times are local St. Petersburg time
Note: St. Petersburg is 8 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone; when it is midnight in NYC, it is 8 a.m. in St. Petersburg.
Nov. 13
6 p.m. – Finals: Women’s and men’s double mini-tramp team; women’s and men’s tumbling team; women’s synchronized trampoline; men’s individual trampoline
Nov. 14
2 p.m. – Finals: Men’s and women’s double mini-tramp; men’s tumbling
4 p.m. – Finals: Men’s synchronized trampoline; women’s tumbling; women’s trampoline