Kunyavsky, Pither Win Rhythmic Titles

Marina Kunyavsky of Los Angeles won her third straight national championship Sunday in the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships at UCLA.

Liz Pither of Northbrook. Ill., won the junior division.

Kunyavsky, 21, a graduate of Fairfax High School, had the highest score in each of the ribbon, ball, clubs and ropes events for an overall score of 76.80.

A native of the Soviet Union who has been in the U.S. 4 1/2 years, Kunyavsky plans to continue competing until at least the 1988 Olympic Games. She was denied a spot in the 1984 Olympics when her ribbon became detached from its stick during the Olympic Trials and she failed to make the team.

Irina Rubinshtein of Agoura finished second in the all-around with 74.65 points, and Shurla Feldman of Sherman Oaks was third with 74.50 points.

The rest of the 10-woman National team, which will represent the U.S. around the world, consists of Elizabeth Cull of Los Angeles; Diane Simpson of Evanston, Ill.; Wendy Hilliard of Detroit; Laura David of San Rafael; Simona Soloveychik of Encino; Kim Stiles of Palos Verdes; and Dacon Lister of Tulsa, Okla.

Pither scored 70.45 points to beat out Cindy Mount of Evanston, Ill., who had 70.30. Jennifer Knust of Farmington Hills, Mich., had 69.70 points to finish third.

Also making the National Junior team were Molly Krause of Wilmette, Ill.; Tammy Jopson of Muskeegee, Okla; Casey Van Loon of Wilmette, Ill.; Kriste Alt of Princeton, N.J.; Jenifer Lovel of Miami; Shannon O’Bannon of Miami; and Brook Notary of San Rafael.