McNeill, Leyva advance to finals at World Cup in Montreal

MONTREAL, Que., Canada, March 6, 2009 - Tim McNeill of Falls Church, Va./University of California - Berkeley, and Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, advanced to the finals at the World Cup in Montreal, Que., Canada. McNeill qualified on pommel horse and parallel bars, with Leyva advancing on horizontal bar. The finals are March 7-8.

In the qualification round, McNeill posted a 15.150 on parallel bars for third place and a 14.250 on pommel horse for eighth. Leyva advanced in third place with his score of 14.850 on horizontal bar. Leyva also competed on pommel horse and parallel bars, but did not advance to the finals. The top eight athletes in each event qualified for the final round.

The women did not have a qualification round at the World Cup, and all competitors will participate in the final round. Mattie Larson and Samantha Shapiro, both of Los Angeles, Calif./All Olympia, are competing for the USA in the World Cup.

The Junior Team Cup of International Gymnix is also being held March 6-9 in conjunction with the World Cup. The members of the U.S. Women's Team are: Kamerin Moore of West Bloomfield, Mich./Twistars USA; Hallie Mossett of Los Angeles, Calif./All Olympia; Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y./Dynamic Gymnastics; and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Twistars USA.