SURREY and DELTA — Ten athletes from Surrey and Delta are among 108 gymnasts who will represent British Columbia at the 2014 Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Ottawa from May 26 to 31.
The athletes were named to the team following a series of trials held this winter and spring.
Leading the way is Surrey’s Shallon Olsen (Omega Gymnastics Academy) who will compete in women’s artistic gymnastics in Ottawa. The 13-year-old is seeking her fourth straight Canadian title. She previously won the novice title in 2011 and the junior titles in 2012 and 2013.
The Canadian Gymnastics Championships are hosted annually throughout Canada. Over 1,000 athletes, coaches and officials will travel to Ottawa to compete for the right to be considered the best gymnasts in Canada.
The Surrey and Delta contingent includes: Taylor Oakley (Flicka Gymnastics), Douglas Armstrong (Flicka), Owen Armstrong (Flicka), Alllyson Armstrong (Langley Gymnastics), Amanda Wright (Shasta Trampoline Club), Brittany Falconer (Shasta), Jordan Wilmshurst (Shasta), Liam Doherty (Shasta) and Kevin Naismith (Surrey Gymnastics Society).
Elsewhere, Surrey Gymnastics Society members turned in strong showing at a pair of late-April meets.
At the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Saskatoon, Surrey’s Alanna Jones, 20, placed ninth overall in the Provincial 5 Open category highlighted by a gold medal in the vault.
In the Elite 4 men’s category, 12-year-old Treyson Cerrato of South Surrey took home bronze in the all-around standings thanks to gold medals in the floor and vault, and a silver for the high bar.
Meanwhile at the girls’ Zone 3 Championships in Coquitlam, South Surrey’s Sarah Tobin, 11, won the gold all-around medal for the Provincial 2 Tyro category. Her highlights included first place finishes on the uneven bars and balance beam as well as a fourth place showing on the floor exercises.
SGS teammate and North Delta resident Eva Woodward, 11, claimed bronze in the all-around for the same category. She also placed first on the floor and second on the uneven bars.
In the Provincial 2 Tyro category, 10-year-old Cassandra Principe of Surrey claimed silver in the all-around in addition to gold medals for the vault and floor, and bronze for the uneven bars.
Teammate Makiah Anderson, 11, was fifth overall highlighted by a third on the floor.
Ten-year-old Maria Bashko of North Delta shone in the Provincial 2 Argo category where she took top all-around honours as well as gold medals for the uneven bars and floor exercises, plus silver medals for the vault and balance beam. Chenay Wong, 10, was fifth overall and earned a silver medal on the uneven bars.
In Provincial 1 Tyro category, 12-year-old Monaeya Silveira took home the all-around gold thanks to first place finished on the vault, uneven bars and floor.
North Delta’s Kelsey Snow, 10, captured the all-around silver medal in the Provincial 1 Argo category as well as gold for the balance beam.
Competing in the Provincial 1 Argo category, eight-year-old Anna Polunocheva took silver in the all-around standings while teammate Alice Bashko was third overall and Chloe Dickson earned gold for the floor exercises.
In the Provincial 1 Argo category, Avery Harrison, 7, took top honours for the vault.