12 to Represent USA at Senior Pan American Gymnastics Championships
Pan American Plaza, Suite 300, 201 S. Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Date: July 1, 1997
INDIANAPOLIS -- An even dozen athletes will represent the United States in the Senior Pan American Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for July 2-6 in Medellin, Colombia.
The women's artistic team is an equal division of the top senior and junior athletes in the most recent USA Gymnastics rankings. Nicole Kilpatrick, Ringwood, N.J., and Raegan Tomasek, Gaithersburg, Md., are ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, in the senior ranks. Kilpatrick is making her debut on the international scene, while Tomasek returns to international competition after a two-meet tour of South Africa in 1995.
Joining Kilpatrick and Tomasek are junior athletes Erinn Dooley, Gaithersburg, Md., currently ranked No. 1 in junior standings, and Morgan White, Coconut Creek, Fla., No. 5 among juniors. Earlier this year, Dooley helps the USA to a team title at the International Team Championships against China and Romania. White is making her first appearance in an international meet.
Injuries have altered the original lineup for the men's squad, forcing Stephen McCain, Los Angeles, Calif., (No. 1 in current USA rankings) and Garry Denk, Colorado Springs, Colo., (ranked No. 6) to stay at home. Leading the team will be Jay Thornton, Augusta, Ga., and Michael Dutka, Fairless Hills, Pa., ranked No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Thornton helped the USA to a gold in team competition at the International Team Championships this year, while Dutka's most recent international experience came at the 1994 Junior Pan American Cup, where he took four event gold medalist and silver in the all-around.
The men's squad is rounded out by Aaron Cotter, Lincoln, Neb., currently No. 13 in the USA, and Sanjuan Jones, ranked fourth in the 16-18 year age group.
Lauri Illy, Virginia Beach, Va., leads a rhythmic squad that features four of the top seven athletes in the USA. Ranked No. 2 in the nation, Illy enjoyed her best international meet in Colombia in 1995, when she won a gold in the rope and silvers in team and hoop in the junior division of the Pacific Ocean Games in Cali. Alicia Albe, Germantown, Md., has seven years of international experience, which includes a gold in all-around at the 1996 African Championships in Namibia. Sasha Chernenko, Culver City, Calif., will compete internationally for the first time, while Meaghan Muller, Roswell, Ga., will compete in her third international event this season. They are ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.
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