GYMNASTICS : Kelly Starts on Top, Stays There in U.S. Women’s Classic

Shelley Engel brought her own cheering section to the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Classic Sunday, then gave nearly everyone in the Marina High School gym something to cheer about.

She didn’t win the meet. That honor went to Kim Kelly, a 16-year-old veteran from Allentown, Pa., who entered Sunday’s optional competition in first place after the two first-day leaders opted to end their performance with compulsory exercises. Kelly performed skillfully enough to stay on top.

Engel, 14, and competing in her hometown of Huntington Beach, successfully performed complicated tricks in every event to move from 12th place to fifth by scoring 38.650 points.

She won the balance beam event with a score of 9.750. Had this been solely an optional-event competition--compulsory competition was held Saturday and the scores from both days were combined--Engel would have tied with Dominique Dawes for second place. Engel’s combination score was 75.530.

“I was so nervous and was hoping to finish in the top 10, but this is great,” Engel said.

This was Engel’s first major meet and her first time competing as a senior. She is one of 18 gymnasts who qualified here for the U.S. National Championships next month at Cincinnati.

Kelly scored 38.300 points in Sunday’s optional competition for a combined 76.630. Shannon Miller of Oklahoma City finished second at 76.150, with a 38.750 Sunday. Jennifer McKernan of Pomptom Plains, N.J., was third at 76.060 (37.925).

Liz Crandall and Sandy Woolsey, who were first and second, respectively, after Saturday’s competition, didn’t compete Sunday. Both already have qualified for the national championships.

Engel scored a 9.7 on the vault and followed with a 9.475 on the uneven bars. When she was preparing to mount the balance beam, the crowd was ready. Engel performs a unique trick--a cartwheel followed by a side flip. When she performed that trick flawlessly, followed by a series of back layouts and a dismount that that included two double back-flips, the crowd was loud with applause.

Engel played to the crowd on her floor routine, which also included difficult runs of layouts and twists. She hit them all and scored a 9.725.