Paige Wournell successfully repeated her top-of-the-charts result from last year, taking all-around gold at the Gymnastics BC championships in Langley last week.
A year ago, Wournell won the Level 5 age group title, highlighted by a gold on uneven bars.
Last week, the 13-year-old registered the top score again on bars and second-best result on vault as part of a 37-point performance in her climb to first place in Level 6-2003.
She also secured silver on vault and bronze on floor.
Wournell became the first Wings Gymnastic Club member to win a pair of B.C. titles, and claimed them back-to-back. She was awarded 9.475 points out of 10 on bars, 9.575 on floor, and 9.150 on vault.
Wings also received a top-three performance from Burnaby’s Kelsey Longeau, who proved third times a charm.
They Wings athlete finished third all-around in her third trip to the provincials, this time in the Level 6-1998-2001 age group.
Longeau, 15, posted the top score on vault and third-best results on beam and floor en route to her overall total. A year ago, the Burnaby North Secondary student finished seventh all-around.
“(Wournell) is a fierce competitor which surprises many due to her calm and friendly demeanor. Once she sets her mind to something, you’d be hard pressed to stop her,” remarked Wings head coach Jessica Di Tomaso.
“(Longeau) is a self-motivated leader that is looked up to by the peers in her training group. She’s a natural athlete (who’s) fun-loving but has the ability to focus when it’s needed.”
Qualifying for her first provincials, Claire Bezdan displayed great form in a challenging compulsory Level 5 program, posting a 13th all-around score, including eighth overall on beam.
“(Bezdan) was excited to qualify for provincials this year, especially in the more challenging (Level 5, 2000-2005 age group),” added Di Tomaso.
“Though the skills have been challenging, she has been strong on beam and floor this year overall. She’s a smart and hardworking competitor with a ‘never give up’ mentality which has served her well over as she’s matured in this sport.”
At the provincials, other Burnaby athletes scored medals with their respective clubs included: Keita Kuramoto, of Flicka, who picked up gold all-around in Level 1 men’s, with first-place showings in floor, uneven and parallel bars and vault; Talya Pollak, of Flicka, who placed fourth all-around with a gold on beam; Maxwell Hill, of Flicka, who came in 15th in Level 2 11-12, with a top finish of fourth on bars; Daniela Lee, from TAG Sports Centre, at sixth all-around in Level 7; and Nakita May, TAG, who finished 13th all-around in Level 8.
