U.S. Junior National Team members Briley Casanova and Sophia DeJesus, eighth and ninth respectively in the all-around at the U.S. Championships, placed third and fourth, respectively, at the Junior Japan International meet in Yokohama. Emerging Russian star Viktoria Komova posted one of the highest all-around totals so far this season to win the all-around title, followed by impressive young Japanese junior Natsumi Sasada. Komova, 14, scored 15.1 on vault, 15.45 on uneven bars, 14.95 on balance beam and 14.3 on floor for a 59.8 total, almost four points higher than Sasada (56.1). Sasada showed some huge skills, though she fell on the one she's best known for (a Garrison mount: roundoff, full twisting layout on balance beam). Neither will be at this year's World Championships. Komova, the daughter of former Soviet team member and 1986 Goodwill Games Champion Vera Kolesnikova, will not be eligible to compete as a senior until 2011. Like Komova, Sasuda's mother was also on her country's national team, and somewhat underappreciated (The Couch Gymnast reports that Sasuda's mother Yayoi Kano was a member of five World Championships teams.) Komova competes some terrifically difficult skills, including a Patterson (double Arabian) dismount on balance beam. American junior sensation John Orozco, 16, who won his third junior national all-around title last month, finished third at this competition, behind Japan's Chihiro Yoshioka and Shou Yokoyama. U.S. World team member and Oklahoma freshman Jake Dalton finished sixth all-around.
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