Local gymnast vaults in regions

Valley gymnast Belle Thompson recently returned from competition at the USA Gymnastics Region II finals in Snoqualmie, Wash. April 4-7, where one 10-second performance in the vault routine provided a highlight she will never forget.

Thompson's vault routine was nearly perfect, as she attained a score of 9.350 to take first place in the event, among a field of 35 competitors.

"Coming off the block you are blind about how you are going to land," Thompson said. "I stuck the landing perfect."

Thompson trains and competes as a Level 9 gymnast with Denali Gymnastics in Wasilla.

Gymnasts progress from levels two through 10. The 16-year-old sophomore at Wasilla High School has been training with Denali Gymnastics for eight years and began competing when she was 9 years old.

Thompson competed in the Senior B division in the region finals against the best gymnasts from Alaska, Washington, Hawaii, Oregon and Montana. With points accumulated in four routines -- balance beam, uneven parallel bars, floor exercise and vault -- Thompson accrued an all-around score of 34.775 to take 29th place in the finals.

According to her coach, Donna Ingersoll, this was Thompson's best meet ever.

"Her division was the most competitive at the meet," Ingersoll said. "Her score would have qualified for the sectionals in the Senior A division."

The top 11 gymnasts from the event qualified to advance to the Western Sectionals in Rapid City, S.D., next month.

Thompson qualified for the region finals by achieving an all-around score of 34.1 at the state meet in Anchorage March 23.

Thompson believes her vault routine is by far her strongest routine.

"I can run really fast and get high off the blocks, which helps me to do my routine," she said.

Thompson says that achievement in gymnastics requires a dedication that leaves time for little else. In addition to time required for school and homework, she trains 16 hours per week, year-round. She also spends three weeks of her summers attending a camp in Texas given by legendary gymnastics instructor Bela Karolyi.

Thompson has aspirations of continuing her gymnastics career with a college scholarship to a Division I school, but admits it will take a lot of work.

"I will have to spend more time in the gym basically eating and sleeping gymnastics," she said.

As for her experience in the region finals, Thompson was impressed by the level of competition.

"There were a lot of good girls there, I know I have a lot of work to do," she said. "It was great to beat everyone in the vault."