USA Gymnastics has selected the sites for the three 2019 and two 2020 Junior Olympic championship events for women’s gymnastics: 2019 – U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships in Indianapolis, Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern Championships in Kissimmee, Fla., and Junior Olympic Level 9 Western Championships in Spokane, Wash.; and 2020 – Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern Championships in Battle Creek, Mich., and Junior Olympic Level 9 Western Championships in Roseville, Calif. The Junior Olympics is USA Gymnastics’ age-group, developmental program, and these three events feature the country’s top female gymnasts for Levels 9 and 10.
“We are excited to have the women’s 2019 Junior Olympic Championships for Level 10 return to Indianapolis and the Indiana Convention Center,” said Annie Heffernon, interim vice president of women’s gymnastics. “Orlando, Spokane, Battle Creek and Roseville have all staged wonderful events in the past, and we are excited to enjoy their hospitality. We hope to announce the site for the 2020 Level 10 U.S. Junior Olympic Championships in the near future.”
The U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships is the culmination of the competitive season for Level 10, the highest Junior Olympic skill level that is just below the elite level. The Eastern and Western Championships serve as the pinnacle for Level 9. More details for each of the championship events are outlined below.
Numerous Junior Olympic champions and medalists have gone on to make the U.S. National Team and represent the United States in international competition and/or to compete in collegiate gymnastics. Many of the country’s top gymnasts are former participants in the Junior Olympic program, including the 2016 Olympic gold-medal winning Final Five (Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman), 2012 Olympic team champions Jordyn Wieber and Kyla Ross, 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, and 2008 Olympic balance beam champion Shawn Johnson, to name a few.
2019 U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships
Held at the Indiana Convention Center, the U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships, scheduled for May 18-19, is expected to showcase more than 675 gymnasts.
USA Gymnastics is staging the event with the support of Visit Indy, Indiana Sports Corp and Sports Indiana.
“We are excited to once again host this premier event in Indianapolis,” said Chris Gahl, senior vice president at Visit Indy. “We look forward to welcoming the country’s top Junior Olympians, as well as fans, to our city.”
The Junior Olympic National Championships is the culmination event for the competitive season. The competition features 12 age divisions (Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, Junior D, Junior E, Junior F, Senior A, Senior B, Senior C, Senior D, Senior E and Senior F), which are determined by birth date. These gymnasts are vying to become Junior Olympic national champions in the all-around, as well as in all four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. The competition schedule will be determined closer to the event.
USA Gymnastics has eight regions, and the top seven gymnasts from each region’s Regional Championships advance to nationals. The winning regions will also be determined at the conclusion of the competition. The top four all-around athletes in each age division qualify to the 2019 Junior Olympic National Team and are invited to attend a national training camp.
The states that comprise each region are: Region 1 -- Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah; Region 2 – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington; Region 3 – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming; Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin; Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio; Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont; Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; and Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships
The Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships are the competitive season's finale and feature the best gymnasts in the country for Level 9.
Slated for May 10-12, the 2019 Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern Championships are headed to Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla., where it is hosted by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, Orlando Metro Gymnastics and Osceola Heritage Park, and the Junior Olympic Level 9 Western Championships will be held at the Spokane (Wash.) Convention Center, with the Spokane Sports Commission as the local host.
In 2020, the Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships are scheduled for May 8-10. Battle Creek, Mich., will hold the Junior Olympic Level 9 Eastern Championships at the Kellogg Arena, with Branch Gymnastics as the local host. Placer Valley Sports and Events Center in Roseville, Calif., will play host to the Junior Olympic Level 9 Western Championships. The local partners are Placer Valley Tourism and Byers Roseville Gymnastics Club.
The Eastern Championships, which feature 16 age divisions that are determined by birthdate, include the top gymnasts from USA Gymnastics Regions 5-8. The states that comprise each region are: Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio; Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont; Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; and Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
The Western Championships, which feature 16 age divisions determined by birthdate, showcases the top gymnasts from Regions 1-4. The states that comprise each region are: Region 1 -- Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah; Region 2 – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington; Region 3 – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming; and Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
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. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more information, log on www.usagym.org.
There are no comments
Please login to post comments