© John Cheng

KIEV, Ukraine, May 23, 2011 – The United States finished second in the team competition at the 2011 Stella Zakharova Cup in Kiev, Ukraine. In addition, Alex Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz., was third in the all-around. Along with Naddour, Jake Dalton of Sparks, Nev., and Steven Legendre of Flower Mound, Texas, put the USA in second in the team competition, behind the Ukraine and ahead of Russia.

In the team competition, the Ukraine posted a team total of 171.600 to take top honors. The USA’s 169.850 landed them in second place, followed by Russia with 168.460. The U.S. Team’s event scores were: 29.600, floor exercise; 26.000, pommel horse; 27.400, still rings; 31.850, vault; 28.400, parallel bars; and 26.600, horizontal bar. Teams from 11 countries participated.

The all-around had a field of 30, and all three U.S. gymnasts finished in the top eight. Naddour posted an 83.500 total to earn the all-around bronze medal. The Ukraine took the top two all-around spots, Oleg Vernyaev at 85.300 and Pyotr Pakhnyuk at 84.150. Dalton came in fifth at 83.300, with Legendre finishing seventh at 83.150. Naddour’s event scores were: 14.150, floor; 13.400, pommel horse; 13.400, still rings; 15.250, vault; 13.700, parallel bars; and 13.600, high bar.

The one-day competition featured both a team and all-around competition. The team competition format was three athletes compete on each apparatus with the top two scores counting for the team total.


2011 Stella Zakharova Cup
Kiev, Ukraine
May 21, 2011

Team competition
1. Ukraine, 171.600
2. USA, 169.850
3. Russia, 168.460

Men’s all-around
1. Oleg Vernyaev, Ukraine, 85.300
2. Pyotr Pakhnyuk, Ukraine, 84.150
3. Alex Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz., 83.500
Other U.S. finishes
5. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 83.300
7. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 83.150