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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 6, 2009 – The Women’s Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships are scheduled for May 8-10. The Level 9 Eastern Championships will be held at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Miss., with the Western Championships at the ConocoPhillips-Adams Building, in Bartlesville, Okla.

The Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships are the culmination event for the competitive season and include the best gymnasts in the country at this level. The competition features 16 age divisions (Junior 1-8 and Senior 1-8), which are determined by age and birth date. The Level 9 Eastern Championships includes the top gymnasts from Regions 5-8 and the Western Championships includes top gymnasts from Regions 1-4.

The top six gymnasts in the all-around in each age divisions at the respective Regional Championships, held April 17-19, qualified to the Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships.

Eastern Championships:

    Tickets for the championships are:

    • Daily admission – adults for $15 and children (under 12) and seniors (60-and-older) for $10
    • Weekend pass – adults for $25 and $20 for children and seniors
    • Children three years of age and under admitted free.

    The competition schedule is:

    • Friday, May 8, Junior Division – 8:45 a.m. for Divisions 1-2, 1:30 p.m. for Divisions 3-4 and 5:45 p.m. for Divisions 5-6
    • Saturday, May 9 – 8:45 a.m. for Junior Divisions 7-8, 1:30 p.m. for Senior Divisions 1-2 and 5:45 p.m. for Senior Divisions 3-4
    • Sunday, May 10, 8:45 a.m. for Senior Divisions 5-6 and 1:15 p.m. for Senior Divisions 7-8
    • Champions are crowned for each session.

Western Championships:

    Daily admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children, with kids under 3 admitted for free.
    The competition schedule is:

    • Friday, May 8, Junior Division – 8:45 a.m. for Divisions 1-2, 1:15 p.m. for Divisions 3-4 and 5:45 p.m. for Divisions 5-6
    • Saturday, May 9 – 8:45 a.m. for Junior Divisions 7-8, 1:15 p.m. for Senior Divisions 1-2 and 5:45 p.m. for Senior Divisions 3-4
    • Sunday, May 10, 8:45 a.m. for Senior Divisions 5-6 and 1:15 p.m. for Senior Divisions 7-8
    • Champions are crowned for each session.

The Junior Olympic Eastern and Western Championships are two of USA Gymnastics’ national championships. Many Junior Olympic champions have gone on to make the U.S. National Team and represent the United States in international competition and/or to compete in collegiate gymnastics.