Natimuk gymnasts claim personal bests and state championships

Kayla Kelm, under-13s, and Hailey Puls, open, were both competing in level seven in their respective age groups, with Kelm coming away with a silver medal on the vault. 

Head coach Lynette Morrow said this was the first time the club had taken gymnasts to the state championships.

“This is the first time we have taken competitors to state championships and both of the girls hit personal best scores,” she said.

“They train less hours than the other competitors there but they were certainly in the mix. It was the highest level they have competed at.”

Brooklyn Fraser also tried out but missed the final cut.

“Only the top 36 get to complete in the finals and we also had Brooklyn Fraser who missed the cut,” Morrow said.

“It’s a big achievement to qualify and we were going for the experience and for the girls to try and get a personal best score. Both of them did that on three apparatus which is fantastic.”

Morrow said she was not expecting the girls to place.

“Personal bests is what we were aiming for,” she said.

“We didn’t think either of them would place because we knew it would be very hard. For Kayla to come away with a silver medal was really a bonus.”

Morrow said the girls would now be aiming to go up into level eight.

“They will be adding some harder skills into their routines, and they will try and gain a level later in the year,” she said.

“They will hope to be in level eight at the state championships next year.”