China, Japan, U.S. Hold Junior Top Three
Age Group Top Contenders Place Well

San Diego, Calif.-- China leads the way after day one of the U.S. Open Synchronized Swimming Championships, being held at the Poway Community Swim Center in San Diego, this week.

The Junior prelim duet competition started the day with China's Li Na and Han Ying taking first place, and the U.S. Junior National Team's Brooke Abel and Carolyn Watts following in second. Japan snagged third and fourth, while the Santa Clara Aquamaids took two spots in the top 12 (fifth and 12th). The Walnut Creek Aquamaids also held two spots (sixth and eighth) along with the Riverside Aquettes (ninth and 11th). 2005 18-19 Age Group duet champions, the New Canaan Y Aquianas, placed seventh while the Juneau Aurora Knights (Alaska) won tenth place.

The Junior prelim trio competition brought new faces with Arizona AquaStars taking third place, and Indy Synchro, 2005 18-19 Age Groups Trio Champions, placing seventh. In Junior team prelims, China took first, Japan second, and the United States placed third as they head into the final round.

This elite caliber, international competition includes 350 of the nation's top synchronized swimmers as well as top international contenders from six countried outside the U.S. Each will vie for titles in solo, duet, trio and team events in the 14-15, 16-18 and Open divisions. Routines will also include the fan-favorite combination routine, which incorporates five different routines into one seven-minute program.

Ticket prices are, Wednesday, July 13, $12; Saturday, July 16, $10 at the door.

Juniors Duet Prelims 1. PR of China, Li NA, Han YING, (R) Bao XIAOXIAO, 83.253, 2. United States of America, Brooke ABEL, Carolyn WATTS, 82.524, 3. Japan, Chisa ICHIKAWA, Yukako KOBAYASHI, 82.010, 4. Japan, Chiaki KAGAYA, Mai NAKAMURA, 80.887, 5. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Elizabeth MacAFEE, Heidi McMAHON, (R) Bianca JOHNSON, 78.898, 6. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Molly KNIGHT, Olivia MORGAN, 76.614, 7. New Canaan Y Aquianas, Jayme DeLANCY, Corinne SMITH, 75.299, 8. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Renae DiBARTOLOMEO, Iris HEMMERICH, 74.759, 9. Riverside Aquettes, Kaitlin BOLT, Jackie MUNDY, 74.563, 10. Juneau Aurora Knights, Sarah FELIX, Kimiko URATA, 74.533, 11. Riverside Aquettes, Cristina MUNDY, Alex STENSBY, 74.329, 12. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Javaneh NIKBAKHT, Morgan THOMAS, 73.602

Junior Trio Prelims1. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Molly KNIGHT, Seyeon MIN, Olivia MORGAN, 77.265; 2. Riverside Aquettes, Jeanine McCULLOUGH, Michelle MOORE, Alison WILLIAMS,76.877, 3. Arizona AquaStars, Kari PETT, Kendra SOLLARS, Katie WENZEL, 74.866, 4. Riverside Aquettes, Ashley BENNETT, Amanda COOK, Paige RAMSEY,74.837, 5. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Vanessa CALLE, Caitlin ELLIS, Allison FISCHER,74.590, 6. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Morgan FULLER, Wendy LU, Nadia RAIS, 73.670, 7. Indy Synchro, Mikayla FRANCESE, Katherine GREEN, Helen LERUMS, 73.498, 8. MAC Synchro, Derya ARAC, Hanna MITTEMEYER, Asumi OHGUSHI, 73.475, 9. Cerritos Synchronettes, Angela CHEN, Cady CHEN, Jennifer CHIANG, 73.085, 10. Cincinnati Synchrogators, Abby DONSELMAN, Lydia SIEBER, Emilie SIEMER, 72.772, 11. Northern Virginia Nereids, Allison BAKER, Alex BOLLAIDLAW, Katie SUAREZ, 72.459, 12. Tonawanda Aquettes, Courtney CHRISTMAN, Susan PRINZBACH, Laurie WAKELAM, 71.897  

Junior Team Prelims 1. PR of China, 83.203, 2. Japan, 82.862, 3. United States of America, 82.697, 4. Walnut Creek, 76.023, 5. Riverside Aquettes, 74.821, 6. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 74.047, 7. Tonawanda Aquettes, 73.864, 8. Cincinnati Synchrogators, 73.669, 9. MAC Synchro, 73.250, 10. Arizona AquaStars, 72.419, 11. Southern CA Coralettes, 72.275, 12. Buffalo Swimkins, 72.153.