Uzelac Makes All-Around Impression at Pan-Am Trials

The Pan-American Games are the last major international competition that extremely young U.S. gymnasts remain eligible for, so there was an opportunity for a couple of 12-year-olds competing in the junior division of the Pan-Am trials Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona.

Kristal Uzelac, all of 4 feet 2 inches tall and 62 pounds, faltered a bit on vault in her first event, but overtook the rest of a field that included 15-year-olds to win the all-around title with a score of 36.550.

Though she’s eligible for the Pan-Am team, all six spots might be claimed by older gymnasts when the senior division competes at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The top senior gymnast competing is Vanessa Atler of Canyon Country, who turns 17 next week and is one of the leading contenders for the 2000 Olympic team that will compete in Sydney. The top six finishers in Pomona make the U.S. team for the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg in July.

Uzelac showed she is a future contender even if she doesn’t make this team. Since gymnasts must be 16 to compete in the Olympics and World Championships, she’s shooting for 2004.

“She’s 12. It doesn’t matter. We’ll keep a healthy perspective,” said one of her coaches, Jack Carter of Parkettes in Cincinnati. “It should be fun doing gymnastics. We’re not disappointed.

“She’s probably the most talented athlete I’ve ever trained. The full package--presentation, speed, flexibility and strength.”

Uzelac won the uneven bars with a score of 9.375, was second on beam with a 9.150, sixth on floor with a 9.00, and sixth despite a couple of shaky vaults, with a 9.025.

“I wanted to do a lot better. I went out strong after that,” said Uzelac, who is from Johnstown, Pa.

Another standout performance was turned in by Tabitha Yim, 13, of the Charter Oak Gliders in Covina, who earned the highest score of the night with a 9.675 on floor exercise and finished seventh in the all-around.

“She’s got potential, a lot of talent,” said her coach, Steve Rybacki, who emphasized Yim is learning to be consistent. “Beam and floor are her best events. Overall, we’re pleased.”

Other individual winners were Brittney Koncak on vault (9.3) and Audra Fraim on beam (9.4)

Another highly regarded 12-year-old who was expected to contend, Ashley Postell, was suffering from flu symptoms and withdrew after competing on beam and floor, feeling so faint at the end of her floor routine that she laid down on a mat as soon as she finished.

“In the beginning, I felt like I was going to be OK, but after my second pass, I started to get really tired,” she said. “After my last pass, I could hardly breathe because of bronchitis.”