Photo gallery: Lexie Priessman soars to Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup win

Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy's Lexie Priessman won the inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup Friday night in Worcester, Mass.

Priessman, a promising junior elite gymnast, topped a field of 36 elites and Junior Olympic (J.O.) competitors to earn her first major all-around title.

The 13-year-old posted the highest scores of the competition on vault and uneven bars on her way to an all-around score of 38.4, besting Gym World East's Kassandra Lopez (37.675) by a little less than a point. Diandra Milliner of Folger's Gymnastics was third (37.4), followed by Exclibur's Gabrielle Douglas (37.2). Kent State University signee Marie Case of Lakettes Gymnastics was fifth. (37.175).

Priessman, who competed at the 2009 U.S. Junior Championships, posted the highest scores of the meet on uneven bars (9.45) and balance beam (9.725) and finished second on vault (9.75) and floor exercise (9.475). Those two events were both won by Milliner, who scored 9.55 on floor and a meet-high 9.85 for vault, her final routine of the night.

The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup (not to be confused with the Valeri Liukin Cup, named for Nastia's father, the 1988 Olympic high bar champion) was designed to give high level gymnasts the chance to perform at a podium competition, where the equipment is placed on a raised surface to give the audience a better view of the action.

"For many of them, this is their Olympics," noted NBC commentator Tim Daggett, who along with Liukin and NBC's Andrea Joyce provided commentary for this meet.

But that doesn't mean that some, like perhaps Priessman, won't have a shot at the real Olympics one day.

Competitors ranged in age from 11 to 18 years old. The younger set may pursue elite gymnastics, while many of the oldest, including runners up Lopez and Milliner, have already committed to NCAA schools. Lopez has declared her intention to compete for Utah in the future, Milliner for Alabama.

Gymnasts each wore custom black leotards shot through with pink chord and a glittering pink Supergirl "S" on the sleeve and matching warmup suits. The leotards were designed by Liukin, whose signature color is pink.

The meet, which was broadcast on Universal Sports, also allowed commentators ample opportunity to sound Liukin on a possible return to gymnastics. Like fellow 2008 Olympic darling Shawn Johnson, Liukin has not officially retired from the sport, but nor has she announced definitive plans to return to competition.

Liukin's last competition was the 2009 U.S. Championships, where she performed only on balance beam. She withdrew her name from the World Championships selection a few weeks later, citing the need to take a break.

Helping plan the Supergirl Cup has made Liukin miss the sport that has made her famous, she said Friday, but she still hedged about setting a date for her return, citing commitments to sponsors and other projects in the works.

"I'm ready to get to that point where I get home and I have somewhat of a normal life and a normal schedule because I'm so used to having everything structured," Liukin said. "We'll see where it takes me."

"I feel like my life still belongs out there on the floor," she added.

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