Three future collegiate gymnasts competed at the FIG Friendship and Solidarity competition in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday. For Team Solidarity, Shilese Jones, a Florida commit, and eMjae Frazier, who is still uncommitted, performed on vault and beam while Gator commit Sophia Butler, of Team Friendship, competed on vault, beam and floor.
The competition was a bit rough for the Americans on beam, their first apparatus, with Jones and Frazier suffering falls. Jones, nevertheless, presented impressive difficulty, including a standing Arabian and a triple series (12.400), and Butler competed a unique series: a side aerial to Onodi (12.800).
On vault, Jones won the event with a huge and nearly stuck Yurchenko double twist, scoring a 14.800, while future teammate Butler competed a solid full-twisting Yurchenko (13.500). Frazier’s vault was not broadcast, but we assume she competed a good Yurchenko double for a 14.400.
Butler also competed on floor, where she performed both a double layout and a full-in. She was a bit down in execution, though, as she struggled especially on her leaps and turns (12.400).
Team Solidarity, which included Jones and Frazier, as well as MAG stars Kohei Uchimura of Japan and Nikita Nagornyy of Russia, won the competition.
Angelina Melnikova of the Russian Federation won the unofficial all around with an impressive 56.700.
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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