Juniors Set for Final Showdown

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Competition continued Thursday at the United Airlines Open held at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

The day kicked off with Senior solo technical competition. Qiu-Ting Sun and Xin Shi, both of the Peoples Republic of China tied for first after both scored a 90.833. A pair of United States solos, Kim Probst and Andrea Nott placed third and fourth, respectively, with scores of 90.333 and 89.833.

The Junior solo competition followed with Megan Poss of the Canada Federation taking top honors at 91.833. Takako Konishi and Erina Suzuki of the Japan Swimming Federation finished in second and third posting scores of 91.500 and 91.333.

Only three entries made up the Senior trio division. In the free routine competition, Joo Hee Joa, Rachel Sinn and Missy Knight of the Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Calif.) took first after posting an 83.667. Celia Gonzalez, Rebekah Friedman and Julie Luca of Dade Co. (Fla.) finished second with a 77.000, while the Tallahassee Serinas' (Fla.) Catherine Carella, Alexis Legate and Claire Oliver followed at 76.167.

The day continued on with the Junior trio competition. Meghan Kinney, Jaclyn Mundy and Michelle Theriault of the Riverside Aquettes (Calif) and the Santa Clara Aquamaids' (Calif.) Elizabeth Burns, Fiona Lundie and Bahareh Nikbakht tied atop the field with scores of 83.333. Jillian Penner, Natalie Chase, Rochelle Rock of Seattle Synchro (Wash.) followed in third after posting a 83.667.

The day closed with the Senior team free competition. The Peoples Republic of China edged the United States 93.833 to 93.333 to take top honors. The Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.) followed in third at 86.500.

Competition continues Friday with Senior free solo competition at 8:50 a.m. and Senior free duets at 10:50 a.m. The Junior Finals competition will begin at 3:30 p.m. starting with the trio finals followed by duets, solos and teams.

Senior Solo Technical Competition (top 12 only)
1T. Qiu-Ting Sun, Peoples Republic of China, 90.833. 1T. Xin Shi, Peoples Republic of China, 90.833. 3. Kim Probst, United States, 90.333. 4. Andrea Nott, United States, 89.833. 5. Heather Burdick, Columbus Corilinas (Ohio), 85.500. 6. Kelly Knutsen, Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 84.833. 7. Soledad Soto Tobar, Chile Federation, 84.667. 8. Alicia Rice, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 84.000. 9. Hallie Todd, MAC Synchro (Ore.), 83.333. 10T. Sarah Beth Moorman, MAC Synchro (Ore.), 81.500. 10T. Tiffany Pursell, Chandler Synchrocats (Ariz.), 81.500. 10T. Karen Meyer, Indy Synchro (Ind.), 81.500.

Junior Solo Competition (top 12 only)
1. Megan Poss, Canada Federation, 91.833. 2. Takako Konishi, Japan Swimming Federation, 91.500. 3. Erina Suzuki, Japan Swimming Federation, 91.333. 4. Barbara Nesbitt, United States, 89.167. 5T. Jessica McMahon, Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 83.667. 5T. Caitlin Stewart, Riverside Aquettes (Calif.), 83.667. 7. Alina Syunkov, Unaffiliated, 83.167. 8. Hilary Homenko, Brecksville Blue Dolphins (Ohio), 82.333. 9. Jennifer Baron, Pirouettes of Texas, 82.000. 10. Jillian Penner, Seattle Synchro (Wash.), 81.333. 11. Sachi Maekawa, Seattle Synchro (Wash.), 80.333. 12T. Meghan Kinney, Riverside Aquettes (Calif.), 79.833. 12T. Jaime Pietras, Chester Co. Barracudas (Penn.), 79.833.

Senior Trio Free Competition
1. Joo Hee Joa, Rachel Sinn, Missy Knight, Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Calif.), 83.667. 2. Celia Gonzalez, Rebekah Friedman, Julie Lucas, Dade Co. (Fla.), 77.000. 3. Catherine Carella, Alexis Legate, Claire Oliver, Tallahassee Serinas (Fla.), 76.167.

Junior Trio Competition
1T. Meghan Kinney, Jaclyn Mundy, Michelle Theriault, Riverside Aquettes (Calif.), 83.333. 1T. Elizabeth Burns, Fiona Lundie, Bahareh Nikbakht, Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 83.333. 3. Jillian Penner, Natalie Chase, Rochelle Rock, Seattle Synchro (Wash.), 83.667. 4. Tori Hay, Ashley Scull, Alandi Stec-Neifert, Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Calif.), 82.000. 5. Dana Girty, Allison Fischer, Jeanine Wurzel, Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Calif.), 81.833. 6T. Paige Chung, Brittany Smiley, Ashly Wenzel, Arizona Aqua Stars, 81.667. 6T. Cristina Mundy, Erin Nelson, Alex Stensby, Riverside Aquettes (Calif.), 81.667. 8. Alix Bogehold, Ashley Leroy, Layla Smith, Rocky Mountain Splash (Colo.), 81.000. 9T. Angie Glass, Michelle Markwith, Jaime Pietras, Chester Co. Barracudas (Penn.), 80.333. 9T. Katherine Green, Melody Cutsinger, Kristine Thomas, Indy Synchro (Ind.), 80.333. 11T. Bianca Johnson, Lauren Oiye, Danielle Waite, Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 79.500. 11T. Candice Duby, Lauren Resch, Deanna Schmitz, Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 79.500.

Senior Team Free Competition (top 12 only)
1. Peoples Republic of China, 93.833. 2. United States, 93.333. 3. Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.), 86.500. 4. Seattle Synchro (Wash.), 86.167. 5. Columbus Corolinas (Ohio), 85.167. 6. Indy Synchro (Ind.), 82.833. 7. New Canaan Y Aquianas (Conn.), 82.000. 8. MAC Synchro (Ore.), 81.000.
9. Team Florida, 80.833. 10. Kansas City Seasprites (Mo.), 76.833.