Hannah Patterson and Ella Simmons of the Fit Kidz Gymnastics Club reached the podium during the provincial championships in North Vancouver.
The club took five members, including Vernon’s Morgan Aysia, to the Lower Mainland on the weekend and won the Okanagan zone championship in the Junior Olympic Level 5, a new program for Gymnastics B.C.
Patterson took second after missing first by .075 points.
“She was going in very focused,” said coach Angela Carlow. “It was awesome to see that she just put it all together.”
Patterson was first in floor, scoring 9.35, first on beams, 9.3, third on uneven bars, 9.075 and 13th on the vault, 8.075. Simmons took third by scoring 7.95 on the vault, 9.2 on bars, 8.975 on the beam and 9.15 on the floor. Julia Nixon was fifth with her best score, 8.75 coming on the beam. Olivia Dunley-Owen was ninth, her best score was 9.3 on the floor. Maya Bassot placed 19th among 40 gymnasts as she qualified to compete one level up. Carlow said Bassot’s performance was awesome considering she moved up.
What Carlow liked about her group was the team spirit they showed and how they performed their best.
“They did an awesome job. Just going out there and having fun,” she said. “They had a great day.”
Fit Kidz Gymnastics would have had seven athletes qualify, however, injury and a prior commitment prevented two others from going.
The team qualified for provincials through a trials competition in Kamloops March 13-15th.
