TAKASAKI, Japan, Sept. 30, 2018 – The United States finished fifth in the team competition at the 2018 Aeon Cup at Takasaki (Japan) Arena. Both Evita Griskenas of Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and Lennox Hopkins-Wilkins of Puyallup, Wash./Evergreen Rhythmics, finished in the top eight in the senior and junior all-arounds, respectively.
In the team finals, Camila Feeley of Highland Park, Ill/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, Griskenas and Hopkins-Wilkins combined for a total of 196.200 for fifth. Their team event totals were: hoop, 49.550; ball, 50.000; clubs, 50.050; and ribbon, 46.600. Russia (GAZPROM) was first in the team competition at 236.100, with Belarus (Dynamo) and Israel in second (209.350) and third (205.450), respectively. with 102.400.
Griskenas, the sole American competing in the all-around finals, was fifth at 71.750 (hoop, 17.600; ball, 17.950; clubs, 18.950; and ribbon, 17.250). Russia’s twins Dina and Arina Averina went one-two (82.650; 80.450) in the all-around finals, with Israel’s Linoy Ashram in third (76.150).
On the junior level, Hopkins-Wilkins was ranked eighth based on her preliminary score. With only the top six competing for the title, Russia’s Anastasia Sergeeva took the top junior all-around honors with a 73.000. Japan’s Alino Yamada and Belarus’ Yana Striga were second (62.500) and third (61.350).