Aerials host gymnastics throng at weekend meet

The Prince Albert Aerials Gymnastics Club is putting the final touches on preparations to host one of the biggest meets in the province.

The competition this weekend at the High Noon Optimist Centre is the only meet this season to feature both men's and women's divisions as well as trampoline and tumbling.

Tracking entries and scheduling present challenges, but the club looks forward to hosting the event again.

"It's always changing and you never know, but we're used to it because we've done it for several years now," said Aerials head coach Randy McMullen. "We'll make it happen and we'll make it run well.

"There are little bumps, but we smooth them over and get them out of the way."

The competition gets underway at 9:30 a.m. Friday and continues through Sunday afternoon.

There will be close to 300 athletes competing, including many from the Aerials club. The meet will be a trial event for the Western Canadian championships in Winnipeg for the Provincial 5 novice and open levels in men's, women's and trampoline and tumbling.

Westerns are April 30-May 3.

In addition, the younger Aerials will compete in the Prince Albert Invitational portion of the meet, where they can win medals but won't move on to Westerns.

Fraternal 11-year-old twins Kelsey and Nikea Fenton will compete for the Aerials in the Provincial 1 novice division.

Kelsey, who won a gold medal at a recent meet in Tisdale, is hoping to "polish up everything," while her sister hopes to complete a cartwheel on the beam, something she has been working hard at in practice.

Meanwhile, Kelsey Hurl, 12, will compete for the Aerials in the Provincial 5 novice division.

Hurl will be among seven gymnasts battling for five spots at Westerns in her group.

Hurl made it to Westerns last year when she was still in the argo class, but there are no event finals until gymnasts make it to novice, so that's what McMullen and Hurl are shooting for this time.

Another highlight of the weekend meet will be the appearance of three national level gymnasts in the trampoline and tumbling competition.

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca