San Francisco Rhythmic Invitational'98

February 28 & March 01,1998

San Francisco, California

World all-around champion Yelena Vitrichenko of Ukraine bested former world event champion Amina Zaripova of Russia to win the fifth annual San Francisco Rhythmic International, presented by Scherba's Sports Center, Feb. 28 - March 01,1998. Making her second U.S. appearance, Vitrichenko scored 10.0 with clubs, 9.958 with rope, and 9.95s with hoop and ribbon. She finished 0.6 over Amina Zaripova, who performed dramatic new routines on all the events. Vitrichenko won every event gold, while Zaripova swept the silvers. Vitrichenko's first American performance came at the 1996 Olympics, where she won the bronze medal. In San Francisco, Vitrichenko waved to the appreciative crowd after each routine, which showcased her superb technique and provocative eye contact. Melanie Putze of Germany competed with consistent grace to place third all-around. She also won bronze medals on three individual events. The only remaining medal (a bronze for rope) went to Russia's Irina Chaplygina, who took fourth all-around. The top American, Alexandra Chernenko (Calif. Academy), placed seventh. Born in Ukraine and now coached by Olga Morozova, Chernenko earned her top position (fourth) with rope. In the junior competition, Russians Dinara Gimatova and Yevgenia Goremykina took the top two positions, followed by Mexican national champion Aicela Rosado (who competes for L.A. Lights). Rounding out the top six were U.S. junior team members Jessica Howard (International), Lindsey Powell (International) and Danielle Lord (Oregon).

You can use any picture from http://www.rozagalieva.simplenet.com/sfinvite/sfinvite00.html I got permit from him.

SENIOR AA

01. Yelena VITRICHENKO (Ukraine) 39.858
02. Amina ZARIPOVA (Russia) 39.258
03. Melanie PUTZE (Germany) 37.992
04. Irina CHARLIGINA (Russia) 37.629
05. Oxana OURAZAEVA (Kazakhstan) 37.304
06. Zaneta CERNOHLAVKOVA 37.225
07. Alexandra CHERNENKO (California Academy) 36.742
08. Julia ERMILOVA (Russia) 36.729
09. Liriel HIGA (California Academy) 36.329
10. Ainura BISENOVA (Kazakhstan) 36.221
11. Elli TAKAHASHI (California Academy) 35.883
12. Eva POLISENSKA (Czech Rep.) 35.600
13. Yelena SILAEVA (Russia) 35.546
14. Inna GORIUS (Germany) 35.075
15. Nadya YUCHNEVICH (Russia) 34.758
16. Jenna POWELL (Colorado School of R.G.) 34.471
17. Jill TURNER (Canada) 34.404
18. Camille BRANTON (Atlanta Intl.) 34.233
19. Elizabeth KAWANA (Hawaii) 34.188
20. Victoria OVSYANNIKOVA (Russia) 34.029

JUNIOR AA

01. Dinara GIMATOVA (Russia) 35.592
02. Evgenia GOREMYKINA (Russia) 35.150
03. Aicela ROSADO (L.A. Lights, Los Angeles) 34.754
04. Jessica HOWARD (Int. Rhythmic, Jacksonville) 34.525
05. Lindsey POWELL (Int. Rhythmic, Jacksonville) 34.488
06. Danielle LORD (Oregon Gymnastics Acad.) 34.392
07. Alexandra VITULOVA (Czech Rep.) 34.071
08. Kseniya SHEPETKOVA (Russia) 33.588
09. Hitomi SAKAMOTO (Japan) 33.313
10. Ikuko AKIYAMA (Japan) 33.083
11. Nastya DYAKONOVA (Russia) 33.071
12. Maya CRAIG (Marin Elite, San Rafael) 33.025
13. Aya OGIHARA (Japan) 32.942
14. Masha ZOLOTAREVA (Russia) 32.667
15. Seiko KUBOTO (Japan) 32.104

San Francisco Rhythmic Invitational '99

February 27 & 28, 1999
San Francisco, California
Scherba's Sports Center of San Francisco presents one of the North America's most prestigious Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournaments - the 6th Annual San Francisco Rhythmic International Invitational. Over 30 International and U.S. teams will represent Russia, Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Kazakhstan, Israel, Bulgaria, S. Korea, Argentina, Mexico, Hungary, Australia, and the USA. Previous San Francisco Invitational participants included 1997 All-Around World Champion Yelena Vitrichenko (Ukraine), 1996 World Champion in clubs Amina Zaripova (Russia), 1995 - 1997 World medalist Yevgenia Pavlina (Belarus), three-time Olympian Lenka Oulehlova (Czech Republic), Four Continents Champions Assel Mustafina (Kazakhstan) and Kasumi Takahashi (Australia), Editha Schaufler, and Lena Asmus (both from Germany).

PAST CHAMPIONS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO INVITATIONAL

1995 - Andrea Sebestova (Czech Republic)
1996 - Yevgenia Pavlina (Belarus)
1997 - Lena Asmus (Germany)
1998 - Yelena Vitrichenko (Ukraine)