The last day of event finals at Russian Championships took place on Sunday in Penza.
In the beam competition, Angelina Melnikova dominated with a solid routine composed of 2 1/2 wolf turn, switch ring leap, flick-flick-layout to two feet, punch front tuck, double pike dismount. Maria Kharenkova finished 2nd with a similar routine but with more small deductions (punch front, flick – flick layout to two fee, ring leap, switch ring leap, double pike dismount). Alya Mustafina hit her routine again, although she had minor hesitations she covered them really well (double turn to full turn, switch leap to switch half, Onodi, aerial walkover to side aerial, double tuck dismount).
On floor, Melnikova and Afanasyeva tied for gold. Angelina had a routine with double layout, double L turn to Y turn, full in pike, double wolf turn to full turn, whip whip double back tuck, double pike dismount. Afanasyeva was slightly less fluid in her overall floor presentation but compensated with a better reputation on the event: double layout, whip triple full, 2 1/2 to layout front, double pike dismount. Maria Kharenkova also had a difficult routine (full in double L turn, 1 1/2 to double back tuck, Memmel, whip-triple full, double pike) and placed 3rd.
Melnikova’s consistency throughout this competition and especially her last two victories determined Valentina Rodionenko to already name her in the 2016 European team (1-5 June, Bern, Switzerland). You can find a quote in Russian from Rodionenko praising Melnikova’s overall performance here. It seems that the other gymnasts that proved their readiness for Euros are: Mustafina, Afanasyeva and Paseka, with the 5th spot remaining to be decided. Rodionenko also added that the 5th member will likely be chosen between Komova (depending on her health), Spiridonova and Tutkhalyan
Here are the results – balance beam:
1 Angelina Melnikova 15.333 2 Maria Kharenkova 15.0 3 Aliya Mustafina 14.8 4 Evgenia Shelgunova 14.667 5 Darya Spiridonova 13.8 6 Polina Fedorova 13.767 7 Darya Krypnik 13.433 8 Seda Tutkhalyan 12.533
floor:
1 Angelina Melnikova 14.567 1 Ksenia Afanasyeva 14.567 3 Maria Kharenkova 14.267 4 Evgenia Shelgunova 14.133 5 Natalia Kapitanova 14.067 6 Anastasia Dimitrieva 13.567 7 Darya Skrypnik 13.267 8 Seda Tutkhalyan 11.9
Article: Bea Gheorghisor
Photo: Russian Gymnastics Federation