Saratoga News

Sports

Top gymnasts will compete in 5th annual Spirit of Flame

By Dick Sparrer

Competitive spirits will be flowing this weekend, as more than 600 female gymnasts jump, glide, tumble and vault across the Santa Clara Convention Center floor during the fifth annual Spirit of the Flame Challenge.

The three-day event, hosted by West Valley Gymnastics of Campbell, will feature gymnasts ranging in skill level from Level 4 to Elite. Competitors travel from throughout the state and across the nation to participate in what promoters are calling "Northern California's premier gymnastics event."

"More than 100 level 9, 10 and Elite gymnasts will participate in this spectacular competition, once again bringing pre-Olympic athleticism to Bay Area gymnastics fans," said Abra Slater, the event's co-organizer and the team director for West Valley Gymnastics.

In the four previous Spirit of the Flame events, athletes from Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts and Russia competed with some of California's finest talent. As of Feb. 7, 641 girls from 47 teams had registered for this year's event. Each entrant will compete in the floor exercise, uneven bars, balance beam and vault.

This year's Spirit of the Flame will be spiced up by the presence of two-time Russian Olympian Alexandre Tkatchev and an Elite international brevet judge, Linda Metheny-Mulvihill. Tkatchev, a recent addition to the West Valley Gymnastics staff, will coach gymnasts, while Metheny-Mulvihill will preside as meet referee.

The first of six sessions is set for Feb. 29, 4:30 p.m. The three sessions scheduled for March 1 will begin at 8 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The final sessions on Sunday are planned for 8 a.m. and noon. Tickets ($5-$30) may be purchased at the door. For more information about Spirit of the Flame Challenge, visit www.wvbc.com/sotf.