Kimble leads after first day of competition at the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge

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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 20, 2014 – Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Swiss Turners, posted an 86.200 in the all-around at the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge today inside the Riviera Hotel & Casino’s Royale Pavilion in Las Vegas to lead the field after the first of two days of competition. Kimble was followed closely by 2013 World parallel bars bronze medalist John Orozco of The Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), and Sean Melton of Orlando/Ohio State University, who are tied for second with 82.150.


The final day of competition begins at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 22, and fans can watch it live at WinterCup.com/live.


Kimble posted his highest score of the day on the floor exercise, where he performed a front layout to front double pike and a double layout dismount for a 15.050. He received scores of 13.400, pommel horse; 14.750, still rings; 14.400, vault; 14.850, parallel bars; and 13.750, high bar.


Orozco was solid on the still rings, posting a 14.500 after finishing his routine with a one-and-a-half twisting double flyaway. He performed a front handspring double full on vault to earn a 15.150, the second highest score on the event in the evening session. He posted the top score of the day on the high bar with a 15.550. His other event totals were 13.750, floor; 12.700, pommel horse; and 14.500, parallel bars.


Solid across all six events, Melton earned the third highest score of the session on floor, 15.100, and the second highest total on the high bar, 14.850. He vaulted a front handspring double front and scored 14.750. He also earned a 13.050 on the pommel horse, a 14.050 on the still rings, and a 14.350 on the parallel bars.


Performances at the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge will help determine the 15 men who will comprise the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team through the 2014 P&G Gymnastics Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 21-24. The six members of the 2013 World Championships squad, plus the two World alternates, retain their spots on the national team. The remaining seven spots will be determined based on the following criteria: the top two ranked all-around athletes who are not already on the senior national team; two based on the National Team Points System; two athletes selected by the Men’s Program Committee; and one selected by the national team coordinator.


The top 42 gymnasts, according to the Men’s Program Committee’s points ranking system, will advance to Saturday’s final competition, along with the top three gymnasts on each apparatus. The all-around and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For information on the points ranking system used for advancement to the final round, as well as the one for determining the national team, go to www.usagym.org.