A total of 10 gymnasts competed in the Senior International Division - about the same number as last year. While there have been some retirements since 2001 (Valentina Barabach, Rachel Kmetko, Heidi Piccardi and Jessica White), there were also a few gymnasts missing with injuries - Amanda Wilson-Mitchell (elbow surgery), Louise O'Connell (ankle), Alison Johnston (broken foot), and Stephanie Lo Piccolo (foot injury).

At stake this year was a place on the Commonwealth Games Squad. There were eight spots up for grabs, but it wasn't a time to be complacent, as Junior International competitors were also eligible for places. This meant the competition at the 2002 Nationals was the toughest for a couple of years. In addition, there were three rounds of competition - day one was the team event, followed by AA on day two (scores added to those achieved on day one), and event finals on the third day.

A description of the performances follows :

Nicole Alexander (NSW). In her first year as a senior, Nicole finished in 7th place. Her best competition day was day two, when she pretty much went four for four. She is easily one of Australia's best vaulters, with a Hristakieva and a RO, full on, pike off (the vault of the moment). On bars, she performed a Comaneci release, which she is still a little inconsistent on. I like her beam for its distinctive choreography and beautiful presentation - punch front mount; tuck back, Korbut, back roll onto one knee; punch front, ¾ Shushunova; double tuck off. Her floor routine to Dark Eyes is now two years old, but it's always nice to see it - full in; handspring, front layout full, front layout; double twist; double pike. She also shows a triple pirouette to wolf jump full. I like the dramatic way that she steps into her start pose - she looks so focused.

Alexandra Croak (NSW). Alex has finally come of age as a gymnast. Taller and more powerful than in 2000, she combines this with mature expression and a high level of artistry. Vault is a RO, full on, pike back off, and a Yurchenko full. Her height has its advantages on bars, where her pirouetting skills come to the fore (giant full to Gienger; 1½ pirouette on high bar to overshoot ½ turn to handstand on low bar, toe on toe off full turn; Arabian double front dismount). On one day she showed a toe on toe off with 1½ pirouettes on the low bar, but this may have been an error (still a good move!). Beam - FF, FF, whip (really confident on this series); aerial walkover; punch front, ¾ Shushunova; double tuck dismount. Floor is simply gorgeous, even if she doesn't show the most difficult tumbling (punch front through to double twist; double pike; triple twist). Her SV on floor is aided by difficult dance combos, such as a triple pirouette to double twisting tuck jump. Some may be critical of Alex's relatively high floor scores compared to others with more difficult tumbles, but the rules allow this. Besides, her dance is absolutely gorgeous, which is a rarity these days. Her Russian Prince (or whatever it's called) routine might be almost three years old, but it suits her so well.

Alex was under a lot of pressure approaching her final routine, which was bars. Allana Slater had scored 9.7 on floor and 9.3 on vault, so if Alex wanted the title, she had to hit. Her bars had no major errors and a score of 9.4 for her routine secured her first national title since 1996, when she was the Sub Junior champion.

Photo, left : Alexandra Croak, the 2002 National champion, performs on the beam

Jessica De Vita (NSW). Has a new floor routine, with tumbles of double pike; whip 2½ twist; double twist. She includes some nice dance combinations which highlight her athleticism - full twisting switch leap, double twisting tuck jump. Beam is a treat - punch front mount; RO, layout; punch front; RO, double tuck dismount; not to mention all the jumps - switch ring leap with her head back; sheep jump; tour jete; switch leap. All this, and the SV was still only 9.6 (she normally starts from a 10). Bars is still a weak point for her - Jaeger and Pak are her releases, and she dismounts with a double front. She finished in 9th place.

Jacqui Dunn (SA). The defending champion from 2001, she had a good competition overall, finishing in 3rd place. Her only major error was a fall from bars on day one. Regardless, she is one of the best bar workers in the world (Comaneci; Endo and Stalder work; Ono turn, Bi to straddled Jaeger; Pak; full in dismount). Even if the statistics don't show it, she is also one of the best beam workers in the world, with an inventive routine (Dunn mount, sheep jump, double stag jump; punch front, ¾ Shushunova; FF, Onodi; switch leap, wolf jump full turn; cartwheel, FF, double tuck dismount). On floor, she is still using Kalinka (2½ twist; 1½ twist through to double twist; double pike), and also includes some difficult dance combinations - triple pirouette to full twisting switch leap; double pirouette to double twisting tuck jump. Vault is a RO, full on, pike back off.

Alana Hew (QLD). Alana was the tallest gymnast (but still only about 5ft 4), and one of the more elegant. Her new floor really suits her, and she makes great eye contact with the audience in some parts. Beam was quite interesting, with a Russian pike front mount; punch front, FF; straight jump 1¼; gainer pike back dismount off the end of the beam. Her Stalder work on bars was beautiful, particularly the Endo full to Jaeger. Alana finished in 10th place.

Kayla Hockey (NSW). Her 8th place may not show it, but Kayla has made some improvement to her routines. When she gets her consistency down, her ranking will improve. Beam includes a layout mount; FF, layout; punch front; back walkover on her head; of course her unique handspring, double front dismount. She is one of the more elegant floor workers, and the new dramatic music demonstrates this. A tucked full in is her new tumble, and she also included a whip through to 2½ twist, and a double pike. Vault is a Yurchenko full. Her bars includes a Healy to Jaeger; 1½ pirouette to Pak; double front dismount.

Danielle Kelly (QLD). The Junior International champion in 2001, Danielle's form was a bit of an unknown coming into this competition, having missed the 2001 Canberra Cup and the recent Pacific Alliance Trials. It was a welcome return to competition, scraping onto the Commonwealth Games squad, and finishing 5th AA. Bars is still as spectacular as ever, with the complex pirouetting sequence at the beginning, ending with a Jaeger. Her dismount is the slightly less difficult double front (minus the ½ turn). Beam is quite different - whip mount; side somi; FF, layout; nice handstand sequence - press to handstand, lowering to a split handstand planche. On floor, her new music is the violin piece by Bond, with tumbles of whip, triple twist; double twist. It's nice, but I like the techno one better. Vault is a RO, full on, pike back off.

Allana Slater (WA). As the most accomplished gymnast currently competing in Australia, Allana was the favourite for the title. After missing last year's Nationals through injury, there was extra motivation for Allana to win back the title she unexpectedly won in 2000. Now 18, but barely taller than she was at the Olympics, the main difference in her gymnastics is more power. Her vaults are a Yurchenko 1½ (I would never have expected her to do this a few years ago), and a RO, full on, pike back off. Bars is largely unchanged since 2000, although she now mounts with a jump to a handstand on the low bar. Other skills in her routine are back hip circle, ½ turn, Jaeger, Pak; hop full to Gienger; full in dismount. Beam is very different, even from the routine she showed at last year's Goodwill Games - Russian pike front mount; switch leap, one arm FF; FF, Onodi; full twisting switch leap; full twisting FF; Rulfova (Khorkina style); RO, double pike dismount. Floor was sublime, with a good mix of difficult tumbling and dance skills - whip, triple twist; 2½ twist punch layout front; double twisting front; double pike - for the only 10 SV of the competition (that I saw). On day two, she scored an amazing 9.7!

Allana made it hard for herself to win with a disastrous bars on day one (2 or 3 falls), and she didn't exude much confidence on beam, particularly on her new skills where she seemed hesistant. On the other hand, her floor, bars and vault are world class. When she settles into her new beam, she will be hard to beat.

Kylie Tanner (QLD). Almost 17 years old - hard to believe since she's still tiny - Kylie has new skills, but made errors to finish 6th AA. Bars has a Jaeger; Pak; double layout dismount. Beam - layout mount; tuck back, Korbut; wolf jump, full twisting switch leap; tuck jump, punch front; RO, double twist dismount. She has a new floor routine to bluesy music (one of those familiar tunes that I can't think the name of) and it's the best one she's had - great choreography; tumbles of double pike; double twist.

Jessica Zarnay (QLD). One of the prettier gymnasts currently competing in Australia, Jessica performed quite well, but couldn't keep pace with the top three (counted a couple of falls). her bars is great - stoop in stoop out, Gienger; giant 1½ to piked Jaeger; giant full to Arabian double front dismount (I'm sure she could do this dismount in her sleep - she's been doing it since she was about 12 and has never seemed to have a problem with it). Beam includes a punch front; and a Rulfova. Her tumbling is great - piked full in; 2½ twist, punch layout front; running double twisting front; double pike. Vault was a Yurchenko full. As she's gotten older, she seems to have gained a lot more power - a couple of years ago I would have never imagined I would see her do a full in.

General observations.

With Alexandra Croak winning the AA, the three most experienced gymnasts in Australia all now have one National title! (Jacqui Dunn won last year, Allana Slater the year before).

The abolition of the hold element on beam appears to allow more time for the gymnasts to get their skills in - last year so many went over time, but it didn't happen too much this year.

The standard of competition was much higher than last year, with more advanced skills and therefore higher SVs. I was reminded of the 1998 Commonwealth Games Trials, when I first started to realise that Australia had gymnasts who were competitive internationally. It's my opinion that Australia is one of the top 6 teams in the world, and our Commonwealth Games squad is a good mix of experience and youth. I think we will make a serious challenge for the team title in Manchester.

© Dudnik, 2002