Tuesday, 11 December 2012 18:00
Daily Courier Staff
Okanagan Gymnastics Centre athletes sprung into a new season on a high note during the weekend in familiar surroundings.
Host OGC claimed three all-around titles at its own Cobweb Invitational meet that also included female artistic gymnasts from Kamloops, Salmon Arm and Nelson.
Kenedi Woodcox, Grace Akurienne and Ellen Smith highlighted the outstanding performance for the OGC in its first competitive meet of the season by finishing first all-around.
Woodcox led the field in the Level 1 Argo category (9 years old and under). She earned top spot on the beam and floor exercise, while placing third on both the vault and uneven bars.
Teammate Kayleigh Nicolson placed second overall with the help of first-place performances on the uneven bars and second place on the vault and floor. Third all-around was OGC's Kirsty Marshall.
The Level 2 Argo category saw Akurienne finish first on the floor exercise and balance been and second on the uneven bars on route to her all-around title.
OGC's Jillian Beaudreau placed second all-around and finished in a tie for first on the floor and took first place outright on the uneven bars. Third place all- around went to teammate Taylor Bowden.
Winning the balance beam and floor competition led to Smith taking all-around in the Pre-Novice Aspire category, developed for athletes 8 to 10 years old on an elite path. She added a second place on the vault and was third on the uneven bars.
Second-place overall went to Gabriela Beselt of the OGC, who took first on the vault and the uneven bars. Lucia Jakab was third all-around.
Among the other top finishes by OGC athletes on the weekend were:
Madison Nethercote, second place all-around in Level 2 Novice (12-13); Caitlin Callahan, second place on vault and uneven bars in Level 2 Tyro (10-11); Vanessa Bulcock, first place on uneven bars and floor in Level 3 (all ages); Brooke Murray, third place all-around in Level 4 (all ages); and Hannah Butcher, third place all-around in Level 5 (all ages).