Shchennikova, Kenlin Shine at Developmental Camp

Shchennikova, Kenlin Shine at Developmental Camp

Aug 1, 2013 by Anne Phillips
Shchennikova, Kenlin Shine at Developmental Camp
The latest Team USA Developmental camp wrapped up at the Ranch, featuring many of the stars of the 2013 US Challenge. Led by coach Valeri Liukin, the Developmental Camps include athletes working towards the elite level and attendance is by invitation only. 

US Challenge Champions Alyona Shchennikova of TIGAR and Adeline Kenlin of Iowa Gym-Nest continued to shine at the camp, going 1-2 in physical abilities testing. Kenlin made a statement last weekend in Chicago by winning the Challenge 10-11 age division with an incredible 14.60 on beam. Click here to watch that routine. 

2012 Olympic Head Coach John Geddert also returned to the ranch with his next elite stars, Delaney Harkness and Autumn Blaney who you met in Beyond the Routine. 

Other aspiring elites in attendence at this camp included Trinity Thomas of ASAP, Anastasia Webb of IGI, Olivia Dunne of ENA Paramus, Elena Arenas of Georgia Elite, and many more. 


Photo: Trinity Thomas with ASAP coach and former elite Ashley Miller at the 2012 Christmas on the Chesapeake Meet.

The camp recap from USA Gymnastics is below. Click here to read the meet recap from the 2013 US Challenge. 

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Aug. 1, 2013 – Fresh from competing at the Secret U.S. Classic in the Hopes U.S. Challenge division, many members of the USA Gymnastics Developmental Team flew from Chicago to Huntsville, Texas, to train at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site. The camp was led by 1988 Olympic gold-medalist Valeri Liukin, who serves as the elite athlete development coordinator.

For many of these athletes and coaches, this is the first day of next year’s competitive season. The working camp included physical abilities testing, and drills for new skills and progressions. Each training session was followed by coaches’ lectures to discuss training plans, skill selection and International Gymnastics Federation rules.

Alyona Shchennikova of TIGAR and Adeline Kenlin of Iowa Gym-Nest, who finished first in the 12-13 and 10-11 Hopes age divisions, respectively, went one-two in physical abilities testing. Delaney Harkness of Gedderts’ Twistars placed third in the testing.

Shchennikova was also recognized as most improved camper this month.

Other members of the Developmental Team headed back to their gyms to continue training and prepare to compete at the P&G Gymnastics Championships in Hartford, Conn., Aug. 15-18.

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