KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Madeleine Gardiner of Cambridge, Ont., topped the field in the senior women’s qualification round at the Canadian gymnastics championships on Tuesday, qualifying for the all around final and three event finals.

Gardiner, who moved up to the senior team a year ago, scored 56.200 points competing on floor, beam, vault and uneven bars to edge runner-up Kristina Vaculik of Whitby, Ont., at 55.650.

Dominique Pegg of Sarnia, Ont., was third in a field of 20 competitors with a score of 55.400.

Vaculik, Canada’s top competitor on the international stage so far this year, qualified for the all around final and all four event finals.

“My floor and vault went really well but I can improve beam and bars here and there and that’s what I’ll be focussing on in the finals,” said Vaculik, 17, who has made a remarkable comeback from a career threatening elbow injury since returning to competition in December.

“This marks the beginning of a big change for me,” said Vaculik, who will go to Stanford University on a five-year scholarship in the fall.

“I’m deferring a year leading up to the Olympics and from there I’m going to be preparing for the world championships leading to the Games and that’s one of my biggest goals.”

In the women’s junior qualification, Sabrina Gill of Oakville, Ont., placed first on uneven bars and bean and added a third and fourth on vault and floor to finish well ahead of her closest rivals with a score of 56.350 points.

Briannah Tsang and Shae Zamardi, both of Vancouver, placed second and third respectively.

Tsang chalked up 54.450 points and qualified for three event finals while Zamardi finished with a score of 54.100 and will be in the medal hunt in three event finals.

The competition continues on Wednesday with the first day of the men’s junior event and qualifications in trampoline.

Contact: Ron Scammell
(613) 298-9196


Source: sirc.ca