Ross wins all-around at 2013 Secret U.S. Classic

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 27, 2013 – 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, won the senior all-around title at the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Finishing behind Ross, who earned a 58.650, were Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, with 58.250 points and Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./GAGE, with 57.200 points.
2012 Olympic team gold-medalist McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All Olympia, made her return to competition at the Secret U.S. Classic. She easily won the vault title, showing her trademark Amanar and a round-off, half-on, front layout full for her second vault, averaging 15.425 points.
Ross began on the balance beam, where she sailed smoothly through a back handspring, layout series and a double-tuck dismount for a score of 14.650 points, the second-highest beam score for the senior division. After recording a 13.400 on floor exercise, Ross moved to the vault, where her clean double -twisting Yurchenko netted15.200 points. On her final event, the uneven bars, Ross won the event’s title by scoring 15.400 points. Her intricate routine featured a toe-on Shaposhnikova with a half turn, also known as a Van Leeuwen, and double layout dismount.
Ernst earned the balance beam’s highest score, 14.700, and the second-highest score on floor, 14.500. On both events, Ernst highlighted her impressive flexibility, doing a switch ring leap and a front aerial to sheep jump on beam, and her floor routine had a switch ring-full in addition to an Arabian double front into a stag jump.
Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati Gymnastics/Cincinnati Gymnastics, won the floor title with a 14.800. She tumbled a double-twisting, double tuck, a full twisting double layout, a one-and-a-half twist through to a double pike and a full twisting double tuck dismount.
The 2013 Secret U.S. Classic served as the final qualifier to the 2013 P&G U.S. Championships. Based on results from the Secret U.S. Classic, two gymnasts who had not previously qualified earned berths to the P&G Championships: Madison Desch of Lenexa, Kan./GAGE, and Erin Macadaeg of Redwood City, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics.
The 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 15-18 in Hartford, Conn., is USA Gymnastics’ national championships and determines U.S. champions and national team members. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.
Background information

  • Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates’ Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena’s website at www.searscentre.com.
  • World Sport Chicago. World Sport Chicago, the legacy of Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid, believes that sport has the power to transform lives and is dedicated to helping children in Chicago find a sport to meet their interests and abilities. The organization promotes the Olympic ideals of fitness, education and well-being by working with partner organizations to launch or expand sport programs for kids. WSC is working to introduce Chicago’s youth to the fun and benefit of sports and the ideals of fair play, teamwork, respect and leadership. For more information, go to www.worldsportchicago.org.