Lincoln, Soma win all-around at 2017 Hopes Championships

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 28, 2017 – Kaliya Lincoln of Hayword, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics, and Ui Soma of Honolulu/San Mateo Gymnastics, won the 10-11 and 12-13 age-category all-around titles, respectively, at the 2017 Hopes Championships at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The Hopes classification is just below the elite level, and the Hopes Championships, previously known as the U.S. Challenge, is the culmination of the Hopes athletes’ season. Gymnastics competition continues tomorrow at the Sears Centre Arena with the U.S. Classic, which begins at 1 p.m. CT with the junior elites, followed by the senior session at 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln tallied a 51.000 to clinch the all-around title for the 10-11 category, finishing ahead of Kailin Chio of Henderson, Nev./Gymcats (49.700), and Mia Viola of Rochester, N.Y./Rochester Gymnastics Academy (49.400). Lincoln also took top honors for both the vault (13.550) and the floor exercise (12.650), while Viola topped the standings for uneven bars (12.850) and balance beam (13.200).

In the 12-13 category, Soma posted a 51.200 to win the all-around crown. Katelyn Rosen of Boerne, Texas/Olympia Hills Gymnastics, took second at 50.750, and Sophia Butler of Houston/Discover Gymnastics, earned a 50.500 to round out the medals podium. The 12-13 event champions are: Butler, 13.450 – vault and 13.350 – uneven bars; Soma, 13.350, balance beam; and Rosen, 13.050, floor exercise.

The U.S. Classic is the final opportunity for female gymnasts to qualify for the 2017 P&G Championships, USA Gymnastics’ national championships, scheduled for Aug. 17-20 in Anaheim, Calif. Many athletes who have already qualified for the P&G Championships will use the U.S. Classic as a final tune-up for the competition in Anaheim.

Single session tickets for competition on July 29 are $35-$45 for the junior session at 1 p.m. and $39-$59 for the senior session at 6:30 p.m. All times are Central and subject to change. All-session ticket packages, which include admission to the junior and senior elite sessions along with the Hopes Championships, are still available and range from $79-$129.

Ticket prices vary according to competition session and seat location. To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the Wintrust Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena.

Fans who cannot make the trip to Chicago can watch the U.S. Classic junior session via a live webcast at usagymclassic.com/live. The Olympic Channel is broadcasting the senior competition live, and the webcast may be viewed on mobile devices via olympicchannel.com. Schedules, general event information, start lists, live scoring and more are available at USAGymClassic.com.

The P&G Championships is the national championships for USA Gymnastics and determines the U.S. champions and the U.S. National Team. The 2017 P&G Championships are scheduled for Aug. 17-20 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.

Background information

  • Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates’ Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena’s website at www.searscentre.com.

  • USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to www.usagym.org.