Walnut Creek Rolling Again In 14-15
Aquanuts lead three of the four 14-15 events

Walnut Creek continued to shine on Tuesday with a pair of top finishes in 14-15 prelims at the 2003 Esynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships in Gainesville, Fla.

Deborah Shim kicked off the day earning an 81.500 to top the field in 14-15 solo prelims. She holds a narrow 0.334 lead over Riverside's Meghan Kinney at 81.166. Cerritos' Debbie Chen holds down third at 80.667.

Later in the day, Shim teamed with Diana LaScala-Gruenewald to take the lead in the 14-15 duet prelim. The duo scored an 83.000 taking a commanding lead over Santa Clara's Elizabeth MacAfee and Carolyn Watts who turned in an 80.333. Derya Arac and Hanna Mittemeyer of MAC Synchro sit in third at 79.000.

Preliminary scores are weighted to 50 percent and combined with 50 percent of the athlete(s)'s figures score to determine the eight finalists in each event. In the final, the 50 percent free routine prelim score is replaced with 50 of the final routine score.

Nearly 1,000 athletes are competing for titles in the solo, duet, trio and team events in four different age groups: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17 and 18-19.

Competition continues Wednesday with 16-17 trio prelims at 8:00 a.m. followed by 16-17 duets at 11:30 a.m. The 14-15 finals in all events will begin at 3:45 p.m.

14-15 Solo Prelim (top 8 only)
1, Deborah Shim, Walnut Creek, 81.500. 2, Meghan Kinney, Riverside, 81.166. 3, Debbie Chen, Cerritos Synchronettes, 80.667. 4, Robin Cabe, Sacramento, 79.833. 5, Laila Elsherif, Riverside, 79.333. 6, Vanessa Mosharaf, Pirouettes of Texas, 78.667. 7, Corinne Smith, New Canaan, 78.666. 8, Elizabeth MacAfee, Santa Clara, 78.500.

14-15 Duet Prelim (top 8 only)
1, Deborah Shim, Diana LaScala-Gruenewald, Walnut Creek, 83.000. 2, Elizabeth MacAfee, Carolyn Watts, Santa Clara, 80.333. 3, Derya Arac, Hanna Mittemeyer, MAC, 79.000. 4T, Heidi McMahon, Katie Wenzel, Arizona, 78.333. 4T, Mandi Meditz, Katie Soloway, Sweetwater Dolphins, 78.333. 6, Robin Cabe, Caitlin Loper, Sacramento, 77.167. 7, Nicole Cardinale, Carrie Roehner, Buffalo, 77.000. 8, Laila Elsherif, Stephanie Vosler, Riverside, 76.667.