HAVANA, Cuba, Nov. 14, 2009 – The United States won the team all-around title and went one-two in the individual all-around at the 2009 Junior Pan American Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Havana, Cuba, the Americas’ rhythmic gymnastics qualifier for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. 2009 U.S. junior all-around champion Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y., won the individual all-around, with teammate Polina Kozitskiy of Fountainville, Pa., claiming the silver medal. All three U.S. rhythmic gymnasts and the group advanced to event finals held later today.

 

The USA won the team title with a total score of 224.650. Canada finished second with 212.80, and Mexico took third with 207.850.

Sereda, who trains at Isadora, won the all-around with a total score of 90.350. Her individual event scores were: rope, 22.650; hoop, 22.70; clubs, 21.900; and ball, 23.100. Kozitskiy earned the silver medal with a total score of 89.550. Her event scores were: rope, 22.550; hoop, 21.350; clubs, 23.850; and ball, 21.800. Alexis Page of New York City/Aviator Sports and Recreation, just missed a U.S. sweep, finishing in fourth at 87.300. Her individual scores were: rope, 21.400; hoop, 21.200; clubs, 22.850; and ball, 21.850.

Three U.S. women advanced to individual event finals: rope –Kozitskiy and Sereda; hoop –Sereda and Kozitskiy; ball –Sereda and Page; and clubs –Kozitskiy and Page.

The junior group of Alexandria Acree, Camille Guidry, Alexa Horn and Kaylee Ward, all of whom are from Jacksonville’s (Fla.) World Rhythmics, finished in fourth. Canada won the group title. All six countries will compete in the group event finals.

Competing at the Pan-American Junior Championships are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela.

A maximum of two countries will qualify for individual rhythmic gymnastics and one group for the Youth Olympic Games. The official announcement of qualifying countries will be made at a later date.

2009 Junior Rhythmic Pan American Championships
Nov. 13, 2009
Havana, Cuba
All-around competition and individual event qualifications

Team final standings
1. USA, 224.650
2. Canada, 212.80
3. Mexico, 207.850

All-around final standings
1. Rebecca Sereda, Staten Island, N.Y., 90.35
2. Polina Kozitskiy, Fountainville, Pa., 89.55
3. Maria Kitharska, Canada, 88.000
4. Alexis Page, New York., N.Y., 87.30
Complete scores for U.S. gymnasts
1. Rebecca Sereda, 90.35 (Clubs, 21.90; Ball, 23.10; Hoop 22.70; Rope, 22.65)
2. Polina Kozitskiy, 89.55 (Clubs, 23.85; Ball, 21.80; Hoop, 21.35; Rope, 22.55)
4. Alexis Page, 87.30 (Clubs, 22.85; Ball, 21.85; Hoop, 21.20; Rope, 21.40)

U.S. individual event qualifiers
Rope: Polina Kozitskiy, Rebecca Sereda
Hoop: Rebecca Sereda, Polina Kozitskiy
Ball: Rebecca Sereda, Alexis Page
Clubs: Polina Kozitskiy, Alexis Page

Group Final Standings
1. Canada, 41.73
2. Brazil, 38.50
3. Cuba, 37.533
4. USA, 36.93
5. Mexico, 35.13
6. Chile, 32.06