Bianca Jordaan, a sr. high performance (elite) gymnast from Oakville in Ontario, Canada, has committed to Eastern Michigan. She graduates in 2013. At the 2011 Canadian Championships, she placed 9th AA, 1st on VT, 3rd on BB and 5th on FX. As a junior in 2010, she placed 6th AA, 2nd on VT, and 1st on FX.
Link: YouTube.com Channel and Other Video
The young US squad, which includes Florida commit Aly Raisman and former UCLA star Anna Li (alternate), powered to the world title, routing the field by over four points. Russia finished well behind in 2nd, and China held off Romania for third.
Link: Results
The 2nd day of Men's Qualifications was held and several NCAAer (past and present) competed. The OU powered US men's team is in 2nd place, behind Japan and ahead of China (in 3rd). Olympic host Great Britain failed to earn an automatic spot at next year's Olympic Games.
Here are the NCAA-related athlete's results:
FX: Steve Legendre (former OU) qualified to the final. Current Sooner Jake Dalton is the first alternate.
PH: OU's Alex Naddour is the first alternate
R: Former OU star Jonathan Horton qualified fifth.
HB: Horton is the first alternate to the final.
Link: IG Recap and FIG Results Page
The OU laden USA Men's team is in 2nd place after the first day of qualifications at the world championships. The USA squad contains former and current Oklahoma team members Jonathan Horton, Steven Legendre, Jake Dalton and Alex Naddour. They are in 2nd after the first day of competition. Others with NCAA links also competed: Tommy Ramos (ex PSU)
Here are some NCAA-related individual placement highlights:
AA: Horton is in fifth, behind US teammates Danell Leyva (3rd) and John Orozco (2nd)
FX: Legendre is 4th, Dalton is 7th
PH: Naddour is 5th
R: Horton is 4th, Ramos is 15th
V: Dalton is in 8th in the two vault qualification standings
PB: Horton was 12th
HB: Horton was 7th
Link: Results
The Women's qualifying sessions of the World Championships have concluded and the US women hit 20 for 20 to advance to the final as the lead qualifier. Several future and present NCAAers were in action in the 2nd day.
In terms of the qualifiers, Florida commit Aly Raisman is the fourth qualifier in the AA and the top qualifier on FX. She also advanced in the BB. Michigan commit Austin Sheppard, competing for Hungary, is the third alternate on VT.
Former DU great Jessica Lopez qualified to the AA final in 18th place, while UCLA signee Christine "Peng Peng" Lee qualified in 20th.
Link: Results
OU tops the Toester.com GymInfo Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll, edging out Illinois in 2nd place. Illinois, however, received more first place votes. Michigan received two first place votes, and Stanford three.
Several NCAAers, past, present and future, competed at the World Championships. The injury-beset USA team competes on Saturday (Tokyo time). The Women's Preliminaries Day 1 competition are now complete (through Session 5), and here's an NCAA recap:
DU's Jessica Lopez (Venezuela) is in fifth AA and looks to advance to the AA final, with solid scores on UB (3rd) and FX (6th).
UCLA signee Peng Peng Lee (Canada) is in sixth after problems on BB. Her best finish was on UB (5th).
Stanford's Kristina Vaculik (Canada) was 12th, with her best event on BB.
Iowa grad Houry Gebeshian was 59th for Armenia; she competed watered down sets. WVU commit Jaida Lawrence (Jamaica) placed 77th.
Josselyn Mackey has committed to North Carolina, according to a site submission. The L10 trains at Xtreme Gymnastics. In 2011, she placed 6th(t) on BB and 26th AA at the L10 JO Nationals. In 2010, she placed 12th AA.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Washington has announced the hiring of Olympian and former NCAA champion Elise Ray as an assistant coach. After performing with Cirque du Soleil, Ray has been coaching at Carroll in Maryland.
Link: UW Release
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