Doggette, Gladieux win titles at 2019 Nastia Liukin Cup
- Results: Senior | Junior
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GREENSBORO, N.C., March 1, 2019 – Makarri Doggette of Pickerington, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, and Gabrielle Gladieux of Greensboro, N.C./High Point Gymnastics, won the senior and junior all-around titles, respectively, at the 2019 Nastia Liukin Cup, held at the Greater Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Triple Cup gymnastics weekend continues with the American Cup at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 2, and wraps up that night with the Elite Team Cup at 6 p.m. ET.
The sixth time was the charm for Doggette, who won the senior title with a 38.975, that included the highest scores for vault, uneven bars and balance beam. Jillian Hoffman of Murrieta, Calif./SCEGA, took second at 38.875, and Kiya Johnson of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, landed in third at 38.750.
In the junior division, Gladieux, who has competed in one previous Nastia Liukin Cup, garnered the title with her all-around score of 38.425. Madison Ulrich of Fort Mill, S.C./Southeastern Gymnastics Center, was on Gladieux’s heels at 38.150. Ava Piedrahita of Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, nabbed third with a 37.775.
The event scores for the senior medalists are below.
- Doggette: all-around, 38.975; vault, 9.850 (top score); uneven bars, 9.750 (top score); balance beam, 9.800 (top score); and floor exercise, 9.575.
- Hoffman: all-around, 38.875; vault, 9.775; uneven bars, 9.600; balance beam, 9.600; and floor exercise, 9.900 (top score).
- Johnson: all-around, 38.750; vault, 9.700; uneven bars, 9.625; balance beam, 9.750; and floor exercise, 9.675.
The top three juniors’ event scores are below.
- Gladieux: all-around, 38,425; vault, 9.700; uneven bars, 9.475; balance beam, 9.725 (top score); and floor exercise, 9.525.
- Ulrich: all-around, 38.150, vault, 9.450; uneven bars, 9.450; balance beam, 9.700; and floor exercise, 9.550.
- Piedrahita: all-around, 37.775; vault, 9.525; uneven bars, 9.625 (top score); balance beam, 9.125; and floor exercise, 9.500.
The 18 junior and 18 senior gymnasts qualified for the Nastia Liukin Cup based on performances at the 18 invitationals in the series. Senior athletes must be 16 years of age or older, and junior athletes must be 15 or younger.
Gymnasts who competed in the Nastia Liukin Cup received a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the Nastia Liukin Cup; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a group photo.
The Nastia Liukin Cup made its debut in 2010. Past sites include 2018, Hoffman Estates, Ill.; 2016 and 2017, Newark, N.J.; 2015, Arlington, Texas; 2014 and 2019, Greensboro, N.C.; 2013 and 2010, Worcester, Mass.; 2012, New York City; and 2011, Jacksonville, Fla.
Background Information
- Nastia Liukin. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin’s total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games. Liukin’s Olympic medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin was the third of five U.S. women to win the Olympic all-around crown. She also won nine World medals in her career. Liukin has graced many magazine covers and appeared on various shows, including “Gossip Girl,” “Make It or Break It,” and the feature film, “Stick It.” Liukin was a contestant in the 2015 spring edition of “Dancing with the Stars” and was the grand marshal for the 2015 Indianapolis 500. She currently serves as a gymnastics analyst for NBC Sports and is a founder of Grander, a global community for the next generation of female athletes that provides access to the people who inspire, resources to help achieve dreams, and communities of like-minded people with similar ambitions. Liukin was coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988 including two gold.
- Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit governmental authority whose mission is to aggressively market Greensboro’s assets, maximizing economic impact while providing excellent visitor service. Guilford County ranks third in the state in travel and tourism expenditures, with over $1.2 billion generated in 2015 and more than 13,000 people employed in travel-related jobs. For more information: www.visitgreensboronc.com.
- Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multi-building facility designed to serve the citizens of Greensboro and the surrounding area through a broad range of activities, including athletic events, cultural arts, concerts, theater, educational activities, fairs, exhibits, and public and private events of all kinds including conventions, convocations and trade and consumer shows. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is one of the most actively booked facilities in the country hosting more than 1,100 events on an annual basis. With its incredible versatility, the Complex has gained worldwide acclaim from promoters, producers, event planners and patrons. For more information; www.greensborocoliseum.com.
- Sports & Properties, Inc. SPI is a sports marketing and sports development firm concentrating in three primary areas of business: major sponsorships, including naming rights; sports tourism; and major events. SPI recent projects include the Raleigh-Durham market’s Major League Soccer Application, the USA Masters Games, greater Asheville sports tourism, and the Seminole County Sports Complex. Event projects include the Africa Youth Games, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the American Cup. SPI clients include Capitol Broadcasting Company, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, the North Carolina Football Club, and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, among others. For more information on SPI, visit sportsproperties.com.
- Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational (GGI) – Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019, the Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, hosted by Flip Force Gymnastics, is one of the largest gymnastics events on the East Coast. The event includes competition in men’s and women’s gymnastics, and power tumbling and trampoline. In 2018, GGI hosted over 3,000 athletes and was a Nastia Liukin Cup senior and junior qualifying event. 2018 was also the inaugural year of the GGI State Men’s Team Competition. Held annually at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in February, GGI is directed by Chris Young (Flip Force Gymnastics), Esau Huang (Flip Force Gymnastics), and Sarah Myers (Flip Force Kidsport Gymnastics). GGI is a sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters, raising $25,000 for the local chapter. For more information, go to www.greensborogyminvite.com.
- USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.