GYMNASTICS WORLD TEAM TRIALS : Zmeskal Tops Qualifiers for U.S. Women’s Squad

Kim Zmeskal, two-time defending national women’s champion, was the top qualifier Saturday night for the U.S. women’s team in the World Gymnastics Championships next month.

Zmeskal, 15, of Houston, had the highest single score of the qualifying session, getting a 9.95 on the vault and totaling 78.83 points. Selection to the world meet, scheduled for Sept. 6-15 in Indianapolis, was based on the trials and on this year’s national championships.

Zmeskal and three of the other seven qualifiers for the U.S. team are coached by Bela Karolyi. Her teammates are Betty Okinko, 16, of Elmhurst, Ill., who qualified with a combined score of 78.206; Kerri Strug, 13, of Tucson, 77.893; and Hilary Grivich, 14, of Huntsville, Tex., 77.535.

Also on the U.S. team will be Shannon Miller, 14, of Edmond, Okla., 77.535; Sandy Woolsey, 18, of Tempe, Ariz., 76.709; Michelle Campi, 15, of Carmichael, Calif., 76.963; and Elisabeth Crandall, 16, of Sacramento, 76.591.

Alternates will be selected when team members return to Indianapolis the week before the world meet.

The only team member who also competed in the last world championships in 1989 is Woolsey, who was eighth in the all-around. The U.S. team was fourth in that meet.