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Aug. 14, 1997

Three Bears in Hunt for Spots on USA National Team after Preliminaries

Trent Wells

BERKELEY, Calif. - Cal gymnasts Trent Wells, David Kruse and Alex Chansky have all advanced to Friday's finals at the 1997 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which is being held at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colo. The trio, all members of Cal's 1997 NCAA championship team, were among the top 24 gymnasts after Wednesday's preliminary all-around competition and will carry their scores to Friday, when the all-around champion will be decided.

Trent Wells, a three-time All-American while at Cal who just completed his senior season, currently stands in eighth place with a six event total of 51.50, 3.05 points behind 1996 Olympian Blaine Wilson. Wilson posted a total of 54.55 on Wednesday to lead all gymnasts.

Not far behind Wells sits fellow former Golden Bear, David Kruse, a 1997 graduate whose 51.25 has him in tenth place heading into Friday's competition.

The third Bear to make the cut was junior Alex Chansky. Chansky, who will be one of Cal's co-captains during the upcoming collegiate season, finished the preliminary all-around in 19th place with a total score of 49.80.

A fourth Cal gymnast, junior Joshua Landau, who will be Cal's other 1998 co-captain, closed Wednesday's competition in 33rd place (47.250). Because only the top 24 gymnasts advance, he will not compete in Friday's all-around final.

At stake at the competition are 14 spots on the U.S. National team. Of those 14, the top six will represent the United States at the 1997 World Gymnastics Championships Aug. 31-Sept. 7 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

PRILIMINARY ALL-AROUND STANDINGS - Top 10
 1. Blane Wilson, Columbus, Ohio,             54.55
 2. Jason Gatson, Mesa, Ariz.,                53.85
 3. John Macready, Los Angeles, Calif.,       52.70
 4. Jim Foody, Addison, Ill.,                 52.65
    John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, Minn.,  52.65
 6. Jay Thorton, Augusta, Ga.,                52.55.
 7. Michael Dutka, Fairless Hills, Pa.,       52.05
 8. Trent Wells, Keizer, Ore.,                51.50
 9. Chainey Umphrey, Albuquerque, N.M.,       51.45
10. David Kruse, Lompoc, Calif.,              51.25
Others -
19. Alex Chansky, Lexington, Mass.,           49.80