- Qualification Results: Hoop | Ball | Group 5 Balls
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26, 2019 – Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Center, advanced to the hoop final at the World Cup, April 26-28, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku Azerbaijan. Both Camilla Feeley of Deerfield, Ill/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and Zeng are in the top 20 in the all-around after two events. Competition in the World Cup, which is part of the International Gymnastics Federation’s rhythmic gymnastics World Cup Series, continues tomorrow with the second day of qualifications and the all-around finals.
In the all-around after two events, Zeng is ninth at 38.250 and Feeley is in 20th place with a 35.950. Russia’s Dina and Arina Averina are first (43.300) and third (40.000), respectively. Israel’s Linoy Ashram is second at 41.800.
Zeng was sixth in the hoop qualification rankings, posting a 19.850. Feeley was 18th at 18.350. For ball, Zeng was 15th (18.400) and Feeley came in at 22nd (17.600). Dina Averina earned the top hoop score at 22.600, with her sister Arina sitting atop the ball ranking (22.100).
The U.S. group placed 12th for 5 balls at 20.950, with Russia claiming the highest score at 26.050. The members of the U.S. group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, are: Isabelle Connor of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Connie Du of Deerfield, Ill.; Yelyzaveta Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Elizaveta Pletneva of Deerfield, Ill.; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Kristina Sobolevskaya of Chicago.
The qualification round for individual event finals wraps up April 27, with the all-around titles for both individual and group rhythmic gymnasts determined at the end of competition on April 27. The top eight gymnasts and the top eight groups for each event advance to the finals on April 28. There is a maximum of two per country for each event final.
The competition schedule is as listed below. All times are local to Baku, which is eight hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.
- April 27, qualifications for clubs and ribbon, 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5:25 p.m., with group’s 3 hoops/4 clubs qualification at 8 p.m.; all-around awards for both individual and group
- April 28, event finals, 12 p.m. – hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon; and 2:30 p.m. –5 balls and 3 hoops/4 clubs
Gymnasts earn World Cup points based on their ranking, which count toward the World Cup Series title. Additional information is available on the federation’s Facebook page, website, Twitter and Instagram.
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.