Hang's vault leads American performances during event finals at the Junior World Championships
© Simone Ferraro
AmericansJayla Hang(Bellevue, Wash./Pacific Reign Gymnastics),Hezly Rivera(Oradell, N.J./WOGA Gymnastics) andKai Uemura(Chicago, Ill./Lakeshore Academy of Art Gymnastics) each scored top-eight finishes on the first day of event finals Saturday at the 2023 Junior Artistic World Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
In women's competition, Hang was sixth on vault with a combined 12.833 (11.700, 13.966), her second attempt standing as the highest-scoring single vault of the day. Argentina's Mia Giuliana Mainardi claimed gold with a 13.383 (13.633, 13.133) ahead of silver medalist July Marano of Italy with a 13.266 (13.400, 13.133) and bronze medalist Ming Van Eijken of France with a 13.000 (13.100, 12.900).
On uneven bars, Rivera was eighth (9.900) in a competition won by Caterina Gaddi (13.600) of Italy and Helen Kevric (13.266) of Germany in first and second. Italy's Giulia Perotti took bronze (13.100).
In men's competition, Uemura recorded a 12.433 to rank eighth in the still rings final. Armenia's Hamlet Manukyan topped the podium with a 13.633, followed by Japan's Masaharu Tanida in second with a 13.466 and Italy's Riccardo Villa in third with a 13.433.
The championships conclude with Day 2 of apparatus finals slated for Sunday, April 2 at 7 a.m. ET. Floor exercise finals will feature Hang and Rivera beginning at 9 a.m. ET. Competition will stream live on theFIG YouTube Channel.
Source: usagym.org