Russia took the lead after Day 1 of the Women's Qualifying at the World Championships. Great Britain was 2nd and Italy was 3rd. The US and China compete tomorrow. The top eight teams qualify to the Olympics automatically, putting extra pressure on this event. Teams that finish 9 to 16 must compete for a spot at the Olympics during a test event next spring in Rio. In a surprise, one of those teams not qualifying automatically is likely to be former super power Romania. They currently stand in 8th, with the US and China expected to surpass them. Japan is 4th, Canada 5th, and Oympic host Brazil in 6th. The teams in particular will be watching the likes of Australia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and others attempt to surpass them.
Mikaela Meyer, L10 at Frederick Gymnastics in Md. , has committed to Utah State. Last season she placed 5th AA at her state meet and qualified through regionals to the NIT where she finished 11th AA.
Carleigh Stillwagon, L10 at Head Over Heels, has committed to Western Michigan. She 7th AA at her 2015 state meet and 27th AA at regionals.
Caitlin Smith, an elite from Paramount Elite Gymnastics, has committed to LSU. In 2015 she competed to a 1st place finish at the WOGA Classic and placed 1st on beam. She placed 34th AA at the Secret Classic.
Allyson Rudd, L10 from Black Hills Gymnastics, has committed to Brown. She placed 7th AA at both her state and regionals meets in 2015.
Kaylee Cole, L10 at Texas Dreams, has committed to Stanford. She placed 1st AA and 1st on bars at her 2015 state meet and 8th AA at regionals.
Leah Smith, L10 at Gymstrada, has committed to George Washington. She placed 5th AA at her 2015 state meet and 12th AA at regionals. She qualified to the NIT and placed 14thAA.
Claudia Goyco, L10 at Gymnastix in Georgia, has committed to Ball State. Last season she placed 3rd AA at her state meet and qualified to regionals.
Natalia Nottingham has committed to Cornell. Natalia is a Level 10 who competes for Spirit Gymnastics in Pa. She competed three events at her state meet last season. In 2013 she qualified to regionals.
Elizabeth Culton, L10 from Bull City Gymnastics, has committed to UNC. Last season she finished 8th AA at her state meet and 20th AA at regionals.
Jamie Panchak, L10 at Airborne in California, has comitted to UC Davis. She last competed in the 2014 season, finishing 15th AA at the NorCal meet and 13th AA at regionals.
Tess Muir, L10 from ENA Paramus, has committed to Bowling Green. Last season she qualified to regionals, placing 7th AA, and to JOs, placing 23rd AA.
Kristen Lang, L10 at Rochester Gymnastics Academy, has committed to George Washington. She won her 2015 state meet and placed 1st on bars. At regionals she placed 1st AA and 1st on bars and floor. She finished 26th AA at JOs.
Margzetta Frazier has committed to UCLA. The elite from Atlantic Coast Gymnastics competed at the P&G Championships in 2014 (28th AA) and 2015 (17th AA).
Norah Flatley has committed to UCLA. This season she competed at the City of Jesolo, placing 1st on beam and shared a 1st place team win. In 2014 she placed 1st on beam and 3rd AA at the Secret Classic. She placed 3rd AA at the 2014 US Championships and she won the beam title at the 2014 Pacific Rim.
USA Gymnastics has named the seven members of the women's World Championships. They include: Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Brenna Dowell (OU), Madison Kocian (UCLA signee), Maggie Nichols (OU Commit), Aly Raisman, and McKayla Skinner (Utah signee). Alyssa Bauman (UF commit) and Bailie Key (UF commit) will continue to train at the Ranch as the team prepares.
Link: USA Gymnastics