The explosive Kim Zmeskal placed first in the all-around. unusual Russian folk song music for her floor routine attracted a great deal of attention from the crowd. The music resembled the sound of a bird. Pitzen, 13, may be taller than her teammates but just as talented. Pitzen, like her teammate Uherek, scored her highest mark on bars with a 9.450. Pitzen improved her standings since last year at Championships. She tied for 12th in the all-around last year and this year placed fifth . Scherr, 14, didn't compete to her capability, perhaps due to her injured leg. On floor, she nearly fell on her last tumbling pass, a double back, but stepped out of bounds and saved it. She also had a tough time on the bars - missing both of her release moves. "Bars is my favorite event and usually my best event," said Scherr. However, Scherr pulled it together on beam, the last event, to score a 9.650 and managed to place sixth in the all-around. pression of all the girls. They have the dedication, drive and goals," said Karolyi. "We see childish mistakes but these little ones are children. You also see great performances." Seventh all-around, with a score of 73.50, was Jana McQuown. Her five year ballet background was obvious from her well-performed floor routine . In fact, McQuown and Zmeskal tied for the top compulsory / optional floor score with 19.0. McQuown trains at Parkettes in Allentown, Pa., with Bill and Donna Strauss. Karolyi's Hilary Grivich scored 73.125 all-around for an eighth place finish. Grivich,12, has come up the gymnastics ranks very quickly. She competed class IV in 1987, moved to class III in 1988 and
September/October 1989 USA GYMNASTICS
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