Keeping Up With The Jones

Santa Clara Aquamaids sweep Thursday’s technical competition

Federal Way, Wash—The U.S. National Championship kicked off today at the King County Aquatic Center featuring the most elite synchronized swimmers in the country. Christina Jones (Santa Clara Aquamaids and National Team I member) swept the board in solo, duet, and team competitions—placing first in each along with her duet partner Andrea Nott, and team members from the Santa Clara Aquamaids.

The 5’9” 18-year-old from Fremont, California is an international titleholder, having won gold at the Speedo Junior Championships, held in Canton, Ohio, just three weeks prior to today’s technical competition. Santa Clara took three of the top eight solo tech spots, three of the top eight duet tech spots and two of the top eight team tech spots.

Other top placers include Stanford University, boasting two Olympians, Sara Lowe (USA) and Courtenay Stewart (Canada), and 2004 Olympic Training Squad member Katie Norris. The Walnut Creek Aquanuts held their own placing National Team I members, Kim Probst and Annabelle Orme, second in duet tech.

Santa Clara pulled away with first in the team tech routine, swimming, among the many female athletes, the only male athlete in the competition: Kenyon Smith.

Competition continues Friday, April 29 th at 10:25a.m. at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. Today’s technical routine scores will be combines with tomorrow’s free preliminary scores to determine qualifiers for Saturday’s finals. Tickets are $10 Thurs/Fri, $15 Sat, and $25 for an all-session pass.

Solo Tech

1. Christina JONES, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 94.667, 2. Katie Rose NORRIS, Stanford University, 94.000, 3. Stephanie NESBITT, Riverside Aquettes, 93.167, 4. Sara LOWE, Stanford University, 93.000, 5. Bianca VANDER VELDEN, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 92.667, 6. Sona BERNARDOVA, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 92.333, 7. Courtenay STEWART, Stanford University, 92.167, 8. Sonja VANDER VELDEN, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 91.667, 9. Kim PROBST, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 91.500, 10. Annabelle ORME, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 90.667

Duet Tech

1. Christina JONES, Andrea NOTT, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 95.000, 2. Kim PROBST, Annabelle ORME, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 93.667, 2. Courtenay STEWART, Sara LOWE, Stanford University, 93.667, 4. Bianca VANDER VELDEN, Sonja VANDER VELDEN, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 92.833, 5. Janet CULP, Jennie CULP, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 92.167, 6. Katie Rose NORRIS, Samantha BONGIOVANNI-DUCLOS, Stanford University, 92.000, 6. Sona BERNARDOVA, Iva BURSOVA, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 92.000, 8. Becky KIM, Lindsay NEWBILL, Ohio State University, 90.500, 9. Poppy CARLIG, Melissa KNIGHT, Stanford University, 88.333, 10. Leah PINETTE, Leayn PINETTE, Ohio State University, 88.167

Team Tech

1. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 96.333, 2. Stanford University, 95.167, 3. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 94.833, 4. Ohio State University, 93.833, 5. Riverside Aquettes, 93.000, 6. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 91.167, 7. U of Alabama Birmingham, 90.000, 8. Ohio State University 89.500