J'can gymnasts cop International team trophy

BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

JAMAICAN gymnasts secured the Level 8 team trophy at the Whitlow International Invitational last weekend in Orlando, Florida with a score of 218.400 points.

Daniel Williams, Jiovannua Jackson and Jamin Melbourne Levy, all of local-based Nishida's Gymnastics and Fitness Centre in Cross Road, pulled off the victory ahead of Gymnastics Plus, 215.500; Columbia Gymnastics, 199.300; and Gym South, 192.400.

The Jamaicans won four of the six events to cop the team trophy, namely the floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and the high bars, and placed second on the pommel horse and third on the still rings.

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Williams was the all-round winner in the Level 8 for gymnasts aged 11-13 with a score of 73.550, as he won the vault and high bar and was runner-up in the floor exercise. Williams edged out compatriot and Nishida's teammate Jiovannua Jackson, also 13 years old, who was second all-round with 73.450. Jackson won the floor exercise and pommel horse, and was second on the vault.

Both Jamaicans outperformed a field of 21 competitors.

Meanwhile, Jamin Melbourne Levy of Nishida was runner-up in Level 8 for gymnasts 14-15 years old, after scoring 71.400 points from a field of 11 competitors.

Melbourne Levy won the floor exercise, parallel bar and high bar, and only lost the title because of weak performances on the pommel horse and still rings.

School director Nishida Shin said the results put the Jamaican gymnasts closer to the goal of competing in world-class competitions such as the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

On February 11-12, seven-year-old Alyssa Chin and eight-year-old Paige Burke will get their opportunity to do Jamaica proud when they participate in the Cruise Classic, hosted by Park Avenue Gymnastics, in Cooper City, Florida. The girls are Level 3 gymnasts.