Who will win US Nationals in 09?

Here is the USA-Gymnastics.com link to who is competing at Nationals this year. Right now we will concentrate on just the women.

At the bottom of this blog will be a complete list of competing seniors. I can’t remember a weaker field in 20 years. With Nastia Liukin and Chellsie Memmel only doing two events. Sam Peszek only doing 3 and Mattie Larson and Sam Shapiro out of the competition altogether this list is pretty thin. Even before all these injuries and adding in the listed AA Olympic Champion this list is nothing to write home about. Then that is more the sports problem then the gymnasts. Also not competing is Olympic alternate Corrie Lothrop. Alaina Johnson is rumored to have given up the sport.

If you made a list and linked these girls into groups based on past success the following would be

The “A” Listers with a shot at the Gold medal

Bridget Sloan (best US gymnast in AA this year) Jana Bieger (former World AA silver medalist) Ivana Hong ( 4th at Nationals in 07) Rebecca Bross (potential and 2007 U.S. junior champion) I would add Olivia Courtney here also but we all know Marta will never let that happen

The B listers with a shot at an AA medal.

Olivia Courtney (US Classic Champion, Olympic Trials competitor) Kaitlyn Clark (US classic medalist) Cassandra Whitcomb (potential) Mackenzie Caquatto (former Olympic Trials competitor currently competing injured)

The rest are… Rheagan Courville Kytra Hunter (vt and floor specialist) Georgia Dabritz Rebecca Clark Kimberly Jacob Annette Miele (trained by Natalia Yurchenko) Morgan Steigerwalt (clean for a Parkette) Brooke Parker Kayla Williams (vt and floor specialist)

Now there are always some surprises in these events. If you watched Kristen Maloney in 1996 there is no way you would have pegged her as the bronze medalist at Nationals in 97. Let alone a future Olympian.

Jaycie Phelps was a horrible junior before she shined late in her senior career.

That is why we actually have a competition.

If I was a betting girl I would bet the house on Bridget Sloan. If she stands up all 4 events I don’t see her being beat by any gymnast doing AA at this event.

Until next time….

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kaitlyn Clark, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Precision GymnasticsMattie Larson, Los Angeles, All-OlympiaSamantha Shapiro, Los Angeles, All-OlympiaJana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla., Bieger International GymnasticsOlivia Courtney, Orlando, Fla., Orlando Metro GymnasticsMackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., Naperville Gymnastics ClubSamantha Peszek, Indianapolis, Ind., Sharp’s GymnasticsBridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind., Sharp’s GymnasticsRheagan Courville, Baton Rouge, La., Elite GymnasticsKytra Hunter, Frederick, Md., Hill’s GymnasticsGeorgia Dabritz, Rowley, Mass., Ace Gymnastics Inc.Rebecca Clark, Blue Springs, Mo., Great American Gymnastics ExpressKimberly Jacob, Raleigh, N.C., Superior GymnasticsCassandra Whitcomb, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati GymnasticsAnnette Miele, Easton, Pa., Parkettes National Gymnastics CenterMorgan Steigerwalt, Jim Thorpe, Pa., Parkettes National Gymnastics CenterRebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, WOGA, seniorIvana Hong, Lovejoy, Texas, WOGA, seniorAlaina Johnson, Tyler, Texas, Texas East GymnasticsNastia Liukin, Parker, Texas, WOGA, seniorBrooke Parker, Lorton, Va., Capital Gymnastics National CenterKayla Williams, Nitro, W.V., Gym Nest Inc.Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., M&M Gymnastics