INDIANAPOLIS, July 24, 2013 – Many of the country’s top gymnasts are expected to compete at the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 27 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The one-day event is the final women’s qualifier for the 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships, and the gymnasts are either looking to secure a spot at the national championships or using it as a tune-up. The senior field is expected to include 2012 Olympic team gold-medalists McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All-Olympia Gymnastics Center, and Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max.
The junior women take center stage at 1 p.m., with the senior session beginning at 6 p.m. Fans who cannot make the trip to Chicago can watch both sessions via a live webcast at secretclassic.com/live. All times are Central and subject to change. For more information, go to secretclassic.com.
Tickets are still available, and single session tickets range in price from $20-$30 for the junior session and $25-$40 for the senior session, including facility fees. All-day tickets, which include admission to both the junior and senior elite sessions, are also on sale and range from $40-$60, including facility fees. To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the KIA Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena. Group tickets may be purchased by calling 847-649-2368.
In addition to Maroney and Ross, 2013 AT&T American Cup all-around silver medalist Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/Bannon’s Gymnastix, and reigning U.S. junior champion Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, are also in the field. Fellow U.S. Senior National Team members Madison Desch of Lenexa, Kan./Great American Gymnastics Express; Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Kennedy Baker of Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams; and Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, join the quartet.
The junior field has 46 athletes from 16 states, including all five members of U.S. Junior National Team: Nia Dennis of Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics; Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./MG Elite; Amelia Hundley of Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics; Bailie Key of Montgomery, Texas/Texas Dreams; and Polina Shchennikova of Arvada, Colo./TIGAR.
The event, which features some of the USA’s top female gymnasts, is the final qualifying event for women’s gymnastics for the P&G Gymnastics Championships.
The 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 15-18 in Hartford, Conn., is USA Gymnastics’ national championships and determines U.S. champions and national team members.
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