PORTIMAO, Portugal, May 15, 2017 – Nastasya Generalova, Los Angeles/California Rhythms, and the U.S. senior group combined for three medals over the weekend at the Portimao World Challenge Cup in Portimao, Portugal. Generalova placed third in the ball final and the group claimed bronze in the all-around and three balls/two ribbons competition. The U.S. group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, consists of Dasha Baltovick of Highland Park, Ill.; Natalie Bourand of Burr Ridge, Ill.; Ugne Dragunas of Darien, Ill.; Connie Du of Deerfield, Ill.; Yelyzaveta Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Kristina Sobolevskaya of Deerfield, Ill.
For three balls/two ribbons, the U.S. group finished third with a 15.650 total. The group from Italy won the title (17.550) followed by Russia at 15.850. USA finished fourth in the five hoops final with a 15.300 total. Italy claimed the top spot (18.350), followed by Russia at 16.850. The group from Spain was third (16.800). USA’s 30.900 total earned the bronze medal in the all-around competition behind Italy (35.550) and Russia (35.050).
In the ball final, Generalova’s 17.400 earned the bronze medal. Israel’s Victoria Filanovsky’s was the champion (18.550) and Russia’s Elizaveta Lugovskikh finished second, totaling 17.650
Generalova placed fourth in the hoop final with a 16.250 total. Filanovsky won the title (17.700) followed by Russia’s Iuliia Bravikova (17.450). Elizaveta Lugovskikh of Russia claimed the bronze (17.000) and USA’s Serena Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora placed seventh with her 15.350.
Generalova added a fifth-place finish with the ribbon (14.450). Filanovsky won the title with her 16.950. Erika Zafirova of Belarus took second with a 14.650, followed by Bravikova at 14.600.