By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer 
7/9/00
 
 

Tulsa's Colwell 16th at Classic, will compete against U.S. champion at nationals.

It didn't take Kristal Uzelac long to get back into championship form.

 The defending U.S. junior champion, who returned to Parkettes Gym just eight weeks ago from an elbow injury, posted a 37.437 to win the Junior International competition of the U.S. Classic Saturday afternoon at the ORU Mabee Center.

 Ashley Postell of Capital Gymanstics finished second at 37.150. Carly Paterson of Brown's was third with 36.700.

 The victory assures Uzelac, 14, of the chance to defend her national title at the John Hancock U.S. National Championships later this month at St. Louis, Mo.

 Uzelac needed to place in the top 14 to reach the U.S. championships after an injury forced her to withdraw from the only other qualifier, the American Classic.

 "I felt good today," said Uzelac. "My elbow is fine. It doesn't hurt. I was a little nervous when I looked at the (vault) judges but I kept telling myself `Think of it as the (Parkettes) Gym.' And actually, it worked out pretty good."

 Uzelac's lowest score came on her first event, the vault at 9.087. It was also the only event in which she did not medal. Her highest score, 9.500, came on the uneven bars and placed her at the top of the chart. She followed that with 9.425 scores on the balance beam and floor exercise.

 Lisa Colwell of Krafft Academy in Tulsa finished 16th overall with a 33.812 to qualify for the U.S. Nationals. Dynamo's Lori Winn also qualified at 11th with a 34.250.

 Colwell recorded a 7.85 on the floor exercise to put her over the 33.5 minimum score needed for nationals. Her best score, 8.887, came on the vault.

 "I was best on balance beam -- I hit a solid routine," said Colwell.

 Of her chances at nationals, Colwell said she thinks she "can do it. I need to hit solid routines."

 Winn scored an 8.6 on the balance beam in her final routine to advance.

 Others advancing to nationals from this Classic are Postell, Lindsey Van den Eykel, Terin Humphrey, Stephanie Gentry, Maria Scaffidi, Chelsea Plourde, Elise Wheeler, Ashley Miles, Emily Stebbins, Susan Jackson, Brittany Williams and Melissa Chan.

 JUNIOR INTERNATIONALS 
All-Around Standings 
(Gymnast, Club, Score) 

1, Kristal Uzelac (Parkette) 37.437. 2, Ashley Postell (Capital) 37.150. 3, Carly Paterson (Brown's) 36.700. 4, Lindsey Vanden Eykel (World Olympic) 35.737. 5, Terin Humphrey (Great American) 35.700. 6, Melanie Sinclair (Orlando) 35.587. 7, Stephanie Gentry (World Olympics) 35.312. 8, Maria Scaffidi (LaFleur) 34.687. 9, Chelsea Plourde (Flips) 34.475. 10, Elise Wheeler (SCEGA) 34.337.

 11, Lori Winn (Dynamo) 34.250. 12, Ashley Miles (Harris) 34.100. 13, Emily Stebbins (West Valley) 33.900. 14, Linzi Fosburgh (Parkette) 33.875. 15, Susan Jackson (Brown's) 33.825. 16, Lisa Colwell (Krafft) 33.812. 17, Brittany Williams (Ricochet) 33.787. 18, Melissa Chan (Airborne) 33.775. 19, Kassandra Kanalas (Harris) 33.562. 20, Megan Dowlen (World Olympics) 33.462.

 21, Nicole Childs (World Olympics) 33.387. 22, Nicole Ford (So. Tier) 33.300. 23, Jacey Draper (Olympus) 33.275. 24, Bridgette Glass (Golden Gate) 33.225. 25, Jordan Schwikert (Gym Cats) 33.187. 26, Sarrie Rubin (Gymnastics & More) 33.162. 27, Rebekah Zaiser (X-Cel) 33.062 . 28, Lisa Marzan (Exper-Ties) 32.900. 29, Brittany Viola (Cincinnati) 32.837. 30, Kristina Baskett (Puget Sound) 32.700.

 31, Meagan Browing (Brown's) 32.575. 32, Corey Hartung (Kasamon) 32.562. 33, Emily Parsons (All Star) 32.525. 34, Jessica Duke (Olympus) 32.225. 35, Brooke Borso (Parkettes) 32.062. 36, Tehani Keeno (Olympus) 31.875. 37, Jamie Boccia (North Stars) 31.850. 38, Jessica Louie (Byers) 31.350. 39, Kinzie Hughes (Dynamo) 31.137. 40, Abby Stack (International Gymnastics) 30.812.

 41, Katie Heenan (Capital) 26.925. 42, Sadie Hansen (Idaho Falls) 26.487. 43, Cassandra Jusino (Naydenov Gymnastics) 25.550. 44, Courtney Priess (Midwest Academy) 23.550.