Levels 2 and 3 were topped with familiar names in the Yukon Gymnastics Championships at Polarettes Gymnastics Club on Saturday. Both all around gold medalists were winners last year as well.
Polarettes’ Fayne O’Donovan won gold in the Level 3 competition, ahead of teammates Lilyanne Gale and Mackenzie Davy in third.
O’Donovan was first in the vault, bars and floor, and came third on the beam, which was won by Gale.
“She actually had a really good floor routine. She’s been having trouble with it since we got back from Juneau,” said Jenn Ryan, head coach of the Polarettes. “She really went out there today and gave it her full effort.”
O’Donovan, who represented the Yukon at the Arctic Winter Games last year, won gold in Level 2 the last two years at the championships.
Polarettes’ Reena Coyne came first in three events to take gold in Level 2, slipping to fourth on the vault. Finishing in second was Juneau’s Lena Kawakami, ahead of Polarette’s Anisa Albisser in third.
“I wasn’t sure how I did because I didn’t look at my scores - I was just waiting until the end,” said Coyne, who won Level 2’s all around gold last year as well. “I think I did well on the bars. I got my uprise with pretty straight legs straight. I saved my soul circle and got my flyaway without letting go too early - so instead of face-planting, I landed on my feet.
“I was proud of my beam because I stuck it all.”
The winners in the Level 1 divisions, who are both from Polarettes, saw improvement over last year’s championships.
Jasmine Bergeron moved from seventh (and last) place last year all the way to first in Level 1A. For the gold Bergeron was first on the floor and second in the vault.
Meanwhile, Gracie Ekholm was tops in Level 1B, moving up from a third-place finish last year. Ekholm placed first on the vault and second on the bars.
About 25 competitors, including five from Juneau Gymnastics, attended the event.
“In at least the last three years, it was the first time we had all four events running at the same time,” said Ryan. “So it was much more fun for the parents to watch because there’s always something going on.”
“I liked that Juneau came up because it’s fun to get more competition than what you’re used to seeing in the gym,” added Coyne. “It’s more of a challenge.”
[image2]
ALL ROUND STANDINGS
Level 3
1st Fayne O’Donovan (49.55)
2nd Lilyanne Gale (47.25)
3rd Mackenzie Davy (46.95)
4th Caitlyn Venasse (46.80)
Level 2
1st Reena Coyne (49.15)
2nd Lena Kawakami (48.05)
3rd Anisa Albisser (47.25)
4th Norea Capua (46.00)
5th Megan Banks (45.30)
Level 1A
1st Jasmine Bergeron (44.10)
2nd Monica Arsenault (43.60)
3rd Candence Campbell (43.10)
4th Matisse Robertson (41.40)
5th Kaylani Tupo (40.20)
6th Sydney Cairns (40.00)
Level 1B
1st Gracie Ekholm (45.95)
2nd Julianne Kawakami (45.05)
3rd Nantsana Murphy (44.70)
4th Kendra Peters (44.65)
5th Robyn Poulter (40.95)
6th Maggie Fekete (39.95)
7th Skye Hanson (38.65)
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com