GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Dec. 2, 2010 – 2010 U.S. all-around champion Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md., leads the all-around after the first of two qualifying days at the 2010 Pan American Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. The event, which features competition in both individual and group rhythmic gymnastics, is the qualification event for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. Ball and ribbon will be competed Friday, and the competition continues through Sunday, Dec. 5.

Zetlin, who trains at Capital Rhythmics, leads the all-around after two events with a score of 48.875. Zetlin recorded the top qualification score in hoop at 24.825 and the third highest in rope (24.050). Ball and ribbon will be competed Friday to determine the all-around champion and conclude individual event finals qualification.

Shelby Kisiel of Houston/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, sits in sixth place after posting a two-event total of 46.500 with scores of 23.425 (hoop) and 23.075 (rope). Anastasia Torba of Orinda, Calif./Allegro Rhythmic, scored a 22.025 in rope and 21.950 in hoop, for an all-around total of a 43.975, putting her in tenth place. Olga Pavlenko of Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora will compete in ball on Friday.

Mexico’s Cynthia Valdez and Rut Castillo are currently in second and third, both with a score of 48.600, with two apparatus to go.

In group, the USA sits in second place after a score of 21.700 for the five hoop routine. Canada leads the group all-around with a score of 22.900. Brazil is third with 20.700. The U.S. group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic in Buffalo Grove, Ill., includes Jessica Bogdanov, Megan Frohlich, Michelle Przybylo, Sofya Roytburg, and Sydney Sachs. Group all-around concludes Friday with the three ribbon/two rope routine.

The remaining schedule for the Pan Am Championships is: Dec. 3 – ball and ribbon at 4 p.m., group (three ribbon/two rope) at 6:30 p.m. and individual all-around and team award ceremonies at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 4 –individual event finals for rope and hoop and group (five hoops) at 6 p.m.; and Dec. 5 – individual event finals for ball and ribbon and group (three ribbon/two rope) at 6 p.m. All times are local in Guadalajara.

Qualification for the Pan Am Games is by country not an individual athlete and is based on rankings after the preliminary round. For individual, the countries that finish in the top six of the team rankings qualify for two gymnasts for the Pan Am Games. An additional four gymnasts will qualify their country based on rankings in the all-around prelims. For group, the top five countries in the rankings qualify for the Pan Am Games.