© FIG

MONTPELLIER, France, Sept. 22, 2011 – Team USA wrapped up individual and team competition today at the 2011 Rhythmic World Championships in Montpellier, France. In the team competition, where three scores on each event make up the team total, the Americans posted a total score of 244.675 to finish 16th. Russia took the gold (290.275), followed by Belarus (272.500) and Ukraine (269.675). Group competition begins Saturday with the all-around final and concludes on Sunday with competition for the individual event titles.

Individually, the best finish by an American came from 2010 U.S. national all-around champion Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Capital Rhythmics, who finished 35th in the all-around. Zetlin recorded her highest score, a 25.650, for her ball routine. Additionally, the 2010 World all-around finalist posted scores of 25.275 (hoop), 23.850 (clubs) and 24.200 (ribbon).

Also representing the United States were 2011 national champion Shelby Kisiel of Missouri City, Texas/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and Polina Kozitskiy of Fountainville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy. Kisiel finished 52nd in the all-around competition behind scores of 24.250 (hoop), 24.725 (ball), 24.475 (clubs) and 22.850 (ribbon). Kozitskiy, who finished 59th, earned her highest mark of the competition for her ball routine with a 24.350. She also recorded scores of 24.100 (hoop), 23.350 (clubs) and 23.800 (ribbon) to complete her competition.

Zetlin, Kisiel and the five-woman group will be back in action next month at the 2011 Pan American Games, Oct. 15-18, in Guadalajara, Mexico.