The New Zealand junior men's gymnastics team returned home from the Australian championships with three titles and 25 medals.
Individual gold medals were won by Michael Chieng, Misha Koudinov and Patrick Peng with Dane Smuts and Yusuf Topari taking bronze in their respective levels.
The apparatus finals tally of 12 gold, five
silver and three bronze was the icing on the cake for the team.
The results are a major step forward for the men's national program, having made remarkable progress in five years from being the "bottom of the heap" to taking on and beating the best of the Australian junior talent.
Individual finals results:
Level 7
Open: Samuel Curr (Qld) 107.875 1, Jawayn Loong (WA) 106.45 2, Timothy Corey (NSW) 105.75 3. Also: Brandon Field (NZ) 102.85 11
Under 13: Michael Chieng (NZ) 113.725 1, Jack Rickards (NSW) 112.216 2. Harrison Stacy (NSW) 111.475 3.
Level 8
Under 15: Misha Koudinov (NZ) 109.525 1, Tom Pickette (NSW) 109.15 2, Dane Smuts (NZ) 107.175 3.
0pen: Patrick Peng (NZ) 106.45 1, Devon Morgan (Qld) 105.20 2, Yusuf Topari (NZ) 101.20 3, Jason Dallow (NZ) 100.70 4.
Level 9
Open: Luke Ingham (QLD) 98.10 1. Shaun Holloway (NSW) 96.00 2, Ben Wood (NSW) 95.75 3. Also: Campbell Main (NZ) 94.05 5.
Apparatus finals (NZ placings only)
Level 7, open
Floor: Brandon Field 18.60 3 equal. Vault: David Bishop 18.65 3 equal.
Level 7, under 13
Michael Chieng - floor 9.70 2, pommel horse 9.50 1, rings 9.40 1, vault 9.625 2; parallel bars 9.50 1.
Level 8
Open - floor: Yusuf Topari 19.20 1. Pommel horse: Patrick Peng 17.20 1. Rings: Jason Dallow 17.65 1. Vault: Patrick Peng 19.10 1. Parallel bars: Patrick Peng 18.20 2
Level 8
Under-15, Floor: Misha Koudinov & Dane Smuts 9.5 1 equal. Pommel horse: Dane Smuts 8.9 1. Rings: Misha Koudinov 8.6 2. Parallel bars: Misha Koudinov 8.9 2 equal, High bar: Misha Koudinov 8.95 3.
Level 9 open: Campbell Main - rings 9.00 1, pommel horse 7.35 1.
- NZPA
