Last year's champion Charity Jones of Miami, Okla./Dynamo Gymnastics, headlines the 34-gymnast field for the fourth annual Nastia Liukin Cup this Friday at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. at 7 p.m. ET. 2012 silver-medalist Alex McMurtry of Midlothian, Va./Richmond Olympiad Gymnastics, returns for her third Nastia Liukin Cup and will look to challenge Jones. The roster also includes seven other returning competitors from the past three years.

"It's hard to believe what this event has become – so many of these athletes have gone on to become Junior Olympic champions and successful collegiate gymnasts," said Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around gold medalist. "I cannot wait to watch these terrifically talented athletes compete and hope they have an incredible experience."

"The Nastia Liukin Cup has proven to be one of springboards to gymnastics success in the United States," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "We are thrilled to continue to showcase some of the best and brightest Junior Olympic athletes, as well as continue our partnership with Nastia."

Two athletes will make their third Nastia Liukin Cup appearance, Ashleigh Gnat of Lake Mary, Fla./ACE Gymnastics (2010, 2012) and McMurtry (2011, 2012). Other returning competitors include: Alicia Boren of Franklin Lakes, N.J./North Stars Gymnastics Academy (2012); Mackenzie Brannan of Cedar Park, Texas/Capital Gymnastics (2011); Felicia Hano of San Gabriel, Calif./West Coast Elite Gymnastics (2012); Jones (2012); Kari Lee of Peoria, Ariz./Flames Gymnastics Academy (2012); Kendal Moss of Cornelius, N.C./Everest Gymnastics (2012); and Lauren Ramirez of Chandler, Ariz./Gold Medal Gymnastics (2012).

A complete list of the 34-gymnast field is available below, alphabetically by state.

The 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Series featured 19 of the top gymnastics invitational meets held throughout the United States between mid-January and February 2013. A designated number of gymnasts from each invitational advanced to the Nastia Liukin Cup.

This year's Nastia Liukin Cup will be televised live on Universal Sports from 7-9:30 p.m. ET. Universal Sports is available nationwide on DirecTV and Dish Network as part of their sports packages in addition to select local cable providers. To find out if Universal Sports is available in your area, click here. Additional non-broadcast routines will be posted on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel.

 

2013 Nastia Liukin Cup participants

Arizona
Kari Lee, Flames Gymnastics, Peoria, Ariz.
Lauren Ramirez, Gold Medal, Chandler, Ariz.

California
Miranda Cabada, Winners Gymnastics, Chino, Calif.
Felicia Hano, West Coast Elite Gymnastics, Arcadia, Calif.
Alma Kuc, All Olympia, Los Angeles, Calif.

Florida
Bridget Dean, Orlando Metro, Fort Meyers, Fla.
Bailey Ferrer, Orlando Metro, Orlando, Fla.
Ashleigh Gnat, ACE Gymnastics, Longwood, Fla.
Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Brandy Johnson's, Groveland, Fla.
Aja-Monet Sims, Brandy Johnson's, Clermont, Fla.

Illinois
Amanda Wellick, Legacy Elite, Wheaton, Ill.

Michigan
Lindsey Lemke, R Athletics, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Minnesota
Lexy Ramler, KidSport Dynamos, Winona, Minn.

North Carolina
Ashton Locklear, Everest Gymnastics, Huntersville, N.C.
Kendal Moss, Everest Gymnastics, Cornelius, N.C.
Emily Schild, Everest Gymnastics, Huntersville, N.C.

New Jersey
Alicia Boren, North Stars Gymnastics, Boonton, N.J.

Ohio
Brianna Brown, Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, Fairfield, Ohio
Sydney Doggette, Buckeye Gymnastics, Westerville, Ohio
Emily Gaskins, Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, Fairfield, Ohio
Jenna Swartzentruber, Buckeye Gymnastics, Westerville, Ohio

Oklahoma
Charity Jones, Dynamo, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oregon
Kaytianna McMillan, National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics, Eugene, Ore.

Pennsylvania
Alexis Mattern, ASAP Gymnastics, Harrisburg, Pa.

Texas
Mackenzie Brannan, Capital Gymnastics, Cedar Park, Texas 
Reagan Campbell, Texas Dreams Gymnastics, Coppell, Texas 
Rachel Daum, Stars Houston, Houston, Texas 
Kyanna George, Metroplex, Allen, Texas 
Samantha Partyka, Champions Gymnastics Academy, Katy, Texas 
Drew Watson, Texas East, Tyler, Texas

Utah
Hannah Miller, Olympus School of Gymnastics, Sandy, Utah
Mariah Peterson, USA Gymnastics World, Woods Cross, Utah

Virginia
Kiera Brown, World Class Gymnastics, Newport News, Va.
Alexandra McMurtry, Richmond Olympiad, Midlothian