GYMNASTICS AMERICAN CUP : Zmeskal, 14, a Karolyi Student, Wins

Kim Zmeskal won the McDonald’s American Cup Sunday, edging Soviet Natalia Kalinina by winning the vault and floor exercise and sharing first place in the two other events.

Alexander Kolivanov of the Soviet Union won the men’s competition, defeating Ralf Buechner of West Germany and American Lance Ringnald by .050. Kevin Davis of the U.S. took fourth.

Zmeskal, 14, entered the final event, the floor exercise, with a .124 lead over Kalinina. She proceeded to dance, leap and flip her way to a 9.95 score.

Upon completion of the floor exercise, the 4-foot-4, 67-pound Zmeskal absorbed a series of hugs and kisses from her coach, Bela Karolyi, who has coached previous American Cup winners Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton and Brandy Johnson.

“I knew that she would win it if she hit the floor the way she is capable of doing it,” Karolyi said. “I was really hoping she would win this, but I wasn’t really sure she would--until after the floor.”

Zmeskal finished with 39.599 points, Kalinina with 39.450 and Japan’s Mari Kosuge was third at 39.111. American Sandy Woolsey took fourth with 38.949.