Natalie Lacuesta came back strong to overtake challenger Kate Jeffress and difend her title as rhythmic national champion at the 1998 U.S. Rhythmic National Championships) held in Colorado Springs) Colo.) at the u.s. O~mpic Training Centet:
L utsta
Catms S
Lacuesta scored 38.033 to become the third rhythmic athlete in a row to win consecutive national titles, joining Jessica Davis (1995, 1996) and Tamara Levinson (1993, 1994). Meanwhile, Jeffress saw her bid to
Senior Title
KATE JEFFRESS
become the first rhythmic athlete to go from junior to senior national champion in one year fade after suffering two drops in clubs. She finished second with an overall score of 37.506. "I'm glad it's over," said Lacuesta. "Today went much better than preliminaries. This was one of the best meets that I've had this year." The eight athletes of the U.S. National Team were determined at the event. Joining Lacuesta and Jeffress are Kassy Scharringhausen, Ellie Takahashi, Alexandra Chernenko, Suzanne Pearson, Angela Pawlicki, and Stephanie Croyle. Atlanta International Rhythmic Gymnastics Club came from behind after preliminaries to claim the senior title in group competition with a final score of 70.150. Heilie Isaacs scored a 9.050 in ribbon, the highest score of the afternoon in junior competition, to propel herself to the title of Junior National Champion.
A member of Rhythmic Gems gymnastics club, Isaacs scored a 35.950 total in the four events Sunday, which contributed 70 percent of her final score of 35.845, well ahead of silver medalist Jessica Howard, who tallied a final score of 35.288. The bronze medal went to Danielle Lord who finished with a 35.210. Rounding out the Junior National Team were Lindsay Powell, Erin Jeffress, Michelle Goldstein, Lauren Hovey, and Lisa Welshinger. In group competition, Illinois Rhythmics held on after leading preliminaries to claim the title of Group Junior National Champion with a score of 49.350.
SENIOR RESULTS
JUNIOR RESULTS
Pre&noilary $lore s<ore is 30% and fioaIs S<ore is 10% .f loA _e. Top eigIrt ....e notiooaI team. Pr" Rope Hoop CIooIos R..... r a "I. Notalie lowesta 37.700 9.500 9.525 9.550 9.600 38.175 Rhythmic 60"" (WdmeHe, 111.1 38.075 9.062 9.550 9.325 9.325 37.262 2. Kote JeKress RhythmHex (Rockville. Md.) 36.500 9.350 9.425 9.350 9.300 37.425 3. It Sthorringhousen AIIanta Internotional (Duluth, Go.1 4. 81ie Takahashi 36.563 9.150 9.225 9.175 9.325 36.875 (aliI. Academy 01 RSG (Torrance, (oliO 5. Alexandra Chernenko 36.750 9.138 9.300 9.100 9.225 36.763 (a~f. Academy 01 RIG ((ulver Gty, (aliI.) 6. Suzanne Peo""" 36.150 9.175 9.225 9.125 9.175 36.700 AIRG( (Lakewood, (010.1 36.050 8.937 8.925 9.000 9.125 35.987 7. Angela Pawlicki Rhythmic GeIIII (Uncolnwood, IH.I 34.863 8.775 8.962 8.450 8.763 34.950 8. Stephanie Croyle Rhy1hmllex (Harvard, Moss.1 9. (am~1e Branton 35.388 8.738 8.962 8.813 7.925 34.438 AIRG( (Atlanta, Go.1 10. Elizabeth Kawaoo 35.200 8.025 9.175 8.550 8.650 34.400 RSG 01 Howoij (Honolulu, Howoijl 34.738 8.437 8.975 8.438 8.700 34.550 II. Amy Ng Rhythmflex(Rockville, Md.1 12. Meoghon Muller' 36.975 0.000 0.000 9.225 9.250 18.475 AIRG( (Roswell, Go.) 'withdrew rIue I. iniurr
Pr......y s<ore S<ore is 30% GIld fioaIs S<ore is 10% of loA S<ore. Topeiglrt_ellClliooalt-. Prelim Rope Hoop CIooIts R..... r_s "35.600 8.975 9.000 8.925 9.050 35.950 I. Htilie 1\Il00 Rhythmic GeIIII (Horthbr",*, 111.1 34.850 8.925 8.700 B.9OO 8.950 35.475 2. Jessico Howard Int1. RSG Gym. (Jocksonville, Ro.1 35.000 8.775 8.950 8.625 8.950 35.300 3. Daniello lord Oregon Gym. Acod. (Tualatin, Ore.1 34.800 8.825 8.725 8.950 8.775 35.275 4. Undsoy Powell Int'l. RSG Gym. (JocklOn~11e, Ro.1 33.925 8.725 8.675 8.687 8.688 34.775 5. ErinJeffress RhythmHex (RockV11Ie, Md.1 6. Michelle Goldstein 33.650 8.475 8.525 8.575 8.600 34.175 Rhy!lvnic 6o~ (WilmeHe, 111.1 7. Lauren Hovey 33.150 8.450 8.637 8.500 8.450 34.037 Rhythmic GeIIII (Winnetka, 111.1 33.075 8.425 B.3OO 8.250 8.375 33.350 8. Uso Welshinger RhythmHex IRockv~le, Mdl 32.963 8.000 8.325 8.437 B.575 33.337 9. Mayo Craig Morin El~e (Novoto, (alil.1 10. Alexandra Hain 33.038 8.187 8.113 8.387 8.438 33.125 Oaklond Rhythmics (81oom1ield Hilk, Mich.1 II. JennilerSihn 32.838 7.988 8.125 8.100 8.175 32.388 (olil. Acod. 01 RSG (La (aoodo, (a(il.1 12. SuzanneMooo 32.662 8.163 7.813 8.000 7.738 31.714 Rhythmic Ge~ (Skokie, 111.1
22
USA
loA 38.033
37.506 37.148 36.781 36.759 36.535 36.006 34.924 34.723 34.640 34.606 24.025
GYM N A S T , C S J U l Y / A U G U S T
I 9 9 8
By Craig Bohnert
SENIOR GROUP COMPETITION 1. Atlanta Internalio..1Rhylhmic 70.150 Gy"""'stics (1IIler (Shannon Clark, At(anta; Kassy Stharringhausen, Duluth, Go.; Natalie Way, Atlanta; (amille 8ranton, Arlonto; Mouriah Kraker, Milwaukee, W~.; Eleanor low, Atlantal
loA 35.845
35.288 35.210 35.133 34.520 34.018 33.771 33.268 33.225 33.099 32.523 31.998
2. Rhythmflex 69.550 (Johanna Shoemaker, North Potomac, Md.; Virginia ledgerwood, Chester, Va.; Stelanie (royle, Harvard, Mass.; Natosha lojevsky, Rockville, Md.; Alicia Alba, Germantown, Md.; Kote Jeffre'ls, Rockville, Md.1 3. RhytllMic Edge 58.600 (Michelle Bordas, (armel. Ind.; Ema Gantcheva, Indianapol~; Mayo Gantcheva, Indianapol~; Margaret Nelson, (armel. Ind.; Ronni Woodrum, (armel. Ind.; lynda Koppelman, Indianapol~1
JUNIOR GROUP COMPETITION 1. Uflllais Rkylluoks 49.350 (Elizabeth Brodlord, WilmeHe, III.; Alexandra Oubovik, Northbrook, III.; Voleria Kharino, Skokie,III.; MarislO Pierce, Highland Pork, III.; 8renann Stocker, Uncolnshire, 111.1 2. Rhylhmllex 48.750 (Vidoria Jane'l, Rockville, Md.; Erin JeKre'ls, Rockville, Md.; Uso Welshinger, Rockville, Md.; Alexandro Diaz, Washington, OL; Helen 5igalov, (hevy Chose, Md.1 3. Scherb.'s Sparts (enler 43.050 IIrina Korastelevo, Son FrancBco, (olil.; Nino (hubrikava, San Francisco, (aliI.; Julio Baskin, Son Francisco, (aliI.; Helen Oreyman, Walnut (reek, (aliI.)