An error-ridden United States women’s team took the early lead in qualifying for the finals at the world gymnastics championships on Sunday.The U.S., competing in the second of six subdivisions, had falls on the balance beam and in the floor exercise but still finished with a score of 147.697 points.France was in second place with 142.835 points, followed by Canada (142.56) and Germany (142.158).The remaining six of the eight women’s subdivisions will compete on Monday with the top eight teams overall qualifying for the final on Wednesday.The top 12 teams qualify for next year’s Athens Olympics.The U.S. team has been plagued with trouble all week, including the withdrawal through illness of 2002 balance beam champion Ashley Postell. Annia Hatch also withdrew after tearing knee ligaments in practice on Saturday.Postell was replaced in the squad by Chellsie Memmel, while Hatch was replaced by Terin Humphrey.On Sunday, defending asymmetric bars world champion, Courtney Kupets whose participation was in doubt because of influenza, fell during the floor exercise, as did Tasha Schwikert.Schwikert also had major errors on the balance beam and asymmetric bars, while Carly Patterson fell when dismounting the balance beam. Hollie Vise also fell on the beam.“Our girls tried, each of them. We just made mistakes, maybe related to pressure,” said U.S. assistant coach Evgeny Marchenko, who is the personal coach of Vise and Patterson.“We didn’t have a great podium practice, and that maybe was on their minds a little bit.”The Netherlands, who are fifth on 141.196 points, were also missing two of their best competitors.Verona Van de Leur, ninth all-around at the 2001 championships, withdrew due to a lingering left ankle injury, while Renske Endel, the 2001 world silver medallist in the asymmetric bars, pulled out because she has not been able to prepare properly due to illness. (Reuters)
