align=center width=170>  Olivia Courtney Photo © Nick Laham / Getty Images
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Olivia Courtney won the senior competition at this weekend's US Classic (called the CoverGirl Classic this year). She was remarkably consistent on three events (14.6 vault; 14.40 bars; 14.45 floor) with a low of 13.95 on beam (a few missed connections). Her tumbling on floor is sky-high, and it looks like she could do almost any trick she chooses.
Ivana Hong, recovering from an ankle injury, was second all-around and first on beam. Without a fall on her new double layout dismount off bars, she would have grabbed the top spot.
2008 Olympians Nastia Liukin and Samantha Peszek both competed here for the first time since Beijing. Liukin placed second on beam with many of her Olympic skills but with a watered-down layout dismount. She's hoping to compete at least one more event (bars) at Nationals. Peszek scratched bars and floor, but did a strong double-twisting Yurchenko (14.85) on vault for second place, and looked solid on beam (impressive standing full to back pike combo) until her foot slipped off on a gainer layout.
Former junior national champ Rebecca Bross injured her ankle in training and performed bars only at Classics. Her aggressive style is fun to watch, and she throws a reverse hecht, Jaegar and a nice blind-full to Pak salto. Other highlights for me were Kytra Hunter's amazing double layout on floor and Kayla Williams' triple full side pass on the same event.
In the junior competition, Kyla Ross (who competed in the early session) topped the rankings with an even 57.00, including a huge 15.20 on vault. Sabrina Vega placed second, winning floor with a 14.80 (great piked full-in and back 2.5 to front layout).
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Comments
Thanks for posting all those vids. I love Kytra’s double layout. She and Kayla could compete for a vault/floor spot on the world team!!
Ivana looks great for being injured so long!
Sam Peszek looks fantastic! can’t wait to see her back this year and at UCLA.