2013 Massilia CupNov 18, 2013 by Anne Phillips
Iordache, Alexeeva Shine at 2013 Massilia Cup
Iordache, Alexeeva Shine at 2013 Massilia Cup
Larisa Iordache of Romania has been on a roll since winning the 2013 World bronze medal on floor. Iordache won the all around, beam, and floor titles at the 2013 Elite Gym Massilia Cup in Marseilles, France over the weekend. She also won the silver on vault. In the team competition, Iordache led the Romanians to gold over Russia and Great Britain.
Iordache saved her best routine for the beam event finals, hitting her most difficult set with a back handspring to back tuck full connection and rouondoff to layout full twist connection. The routine was valued at a 6.90. She was awarded with a 15.633 and the gold medal. Romanian teammate Andreea Munteanu took the silver with a 15.00. Click here to watch Iordache's winning routine.
Alla Sosnitskaya of Russia won the vault title while Louise Vanhille of France won the uneven bars title in front of a rowdy home crowd. She originally tied with Ekaterina Kramarenko of Russia, but won the gold in a tie break.
Irina Alexeeva atop the medal podium.
First year junior elite Irina Alexeeva of WOGA absolutely dominated her division of the Massilia Cup. She was competing in the "Tournoi des Cigales" portion of the competition open to French and international gymnasts aged 10 to 12 years. Alexeeva earned a 59.850 all around score to win the division by over eleven points! Her beam routine earned a stellar 16.00 and her bar set scored a 15.850. Watch her bars here.
First year junior elite Irina Alexeeva of WOGA absolutely dominated her division of the Massilia Cup. She was competing in the "Tournoi des Cigales" portion of the competition open to French and international gymnasts aged 10 to 12 years. Alexeeva earned a 59.850 all around score to win the division by over eleven points! Her beam routine earned a stellar 16.00 and her bar set scored a 15.850. Watch her bars here.
Finally, the meet included a second team final called the Massilia Open. Belgium took the team title followed by Canada and France.
The USAG Region 7 All Star team took part in the open team competition. They split into two teams. Competing under elite scoring during their off season, the first team of level 10s took 4th place in the Open division. The 2013 Region 7 All Star team included Alex McMurtry, Maggie Musselman, Lauren Bridgens, Erika Muhaw, Alicia Boren, Rachel Stypinski, and Kaitlynn Hedelund. The alternates were Emma Marchese, Kirah Koshinski, and Lia Breeden. Nicole Medvitz and Erin Buchanan were also named to the team but began their college careers in the fall.
In the open all around competition, Berengere Fransolet of Belgium and Nathalie Vakulik of Canada went 1-2 in the all around with Emma Larson of Sweden claiming the bronze. WOGA elite Samantha Ogden finished just off the podium in 4th place. J.O. National Champion and University of Florida commit Alicia Boren of North Stars was Region 7's highest all around finisher at 7th place with a 51.850. Boren even advanced to Sunday's vault finals where she placed 7th.
