THOUGH disappointed she wasn’t able to perform at her optimum, English-born gymnast Jade Lewis expressed delight that she has joined the ranks to represent Jamaica on the international stage.

This, after she paraded her skills at the Supreme Ventures-sponsored Gymnastic Classics and National Trials at the Jamaica School of Gymnatics on Saturday.

Lewis, who earns her Jamaica stripes through her parents, was among four new gymnasts who strutted their stuff on day one of the two-day event which concludes today.

The 22-year-old and Canada-born Elel Wahrmann Baker, the lone male contestant, were those to join the senior team while Isabella David and Kennedy Walsh were the new members on the junior team.

While she placed behind another English-born gymnast Tyesha Francis, who was the top all-around senior athlete, Lewis said she was happy to be back in competition.

Mattis scored 48.70, after scoring 12.40, 12.60, 12.20 and 11.50 on uneven bars, balance beam, vault and floor, respectively. Jamilia Duffus, who scored 10.20, 9.60, 11.60 and 9.20 for an all-around score of 40.60, was second as Lewis (40.40) placed third. Her breakdown was 9.20, 9.80, 11.10 and 10.30.

Meanwhile Alana Walker, sporting a left knee brace,and Danyella Holmes who braved a shoulder injury to compete, were fourth and fifth with 29.10 and 9.60, respectively.

“I felt like I [quit] too early. I started gymnastics when I was five years old and then called time when I was 17, but that was when I was peaking so my coach asked if I didn’t want to come back to end on a high.

“So, that’s why I came back. Sadly I wasn’t able to compete at my best because I suffered a hamstring injury in training before I came here, but I was still able to win a couple of medals and a trophy so I am really proud of myself,” Lewis told the Jamaica Observer.

“I now have an opportunity to represent my nation, and I am more excited because I am competing for myself as well as my family so being here at trials today is added motivation for me to perform more and develop my skills — not just basic routines.

“I just want to recover from this injury, get back in the gym, and just build my skills up to be the best that I can be,” she added.

David was tops in the junior category with an all-around score of 37.00, with Walsh (35.40) and Emelia Sharpe (30.30) taking second and third, respectively. Leanna Blake (26.10) and Natashley Prehay (24.60) completed that section.

The PanAm Gymnastic Union (PAGU) Level Two was topped by Christiyana Martin with an all-around score of 41.20, followed by Sukutiri-Shay Smith (39.60) and Mariah Gordon (39.00).

Zuri Matandara-Clarke topped the PAGU Level Three with 40.30, ahead of Ariana Richardson 38.50 and Danique Meek (36.60). Kamaria Smith (33.60) was the other competitor.

Meanwhile, Elel Wahrmann Baker contested the parallel bars, pommel horse, vault and floor exercise, scoring 12.10, 12.10, 13.40 and 12.00, respectively, for an all-around score of 49.60.

— Sherdon Cowan