Whelan, a member of Canada’s 2015 Pan Am and world championship teams, earned a combined score of 30.500 points for her hoop and ball routines, with Katherine Uchida of Toronto close behind at 30.350.
Cindy Huh of Vancouver placed third in a field of 39 competitors with 29.550 points.
Canadian champion Patricia Bezzoubenko of Toronto is not competing at this year’s Elite Canada as she prepares for an upcoming World Cup event in Europe.
“I’m pretty happy with how things went,” said Whelan. “I was hoping for clean routines with no mistakes but I know that’s not possible at this time of the year. I’m not at the point yet where it’s all muscle memory — I have to think through every move as I do them.”
Whelan has completely revamped two of her four routines from last year and is aiming for more emotion in the ball event and a more upbeat performance in clubs.
In the junior competition, Alexandra Chtrevenskii from the Questo RG Club currently sits in first with 25.350 points from her rope and hoop routines. Natalie Garcia from Mississauga Newnorth is in second with 24.700 points, and Jaedyn Andreotti from Okanagan RG is in third with 23.600.
Competition continues tomorrow with the seniors performing clubs and ribbons routines, and the juniors performing with the ball and clubs.
The top 15 competitors from both the junior and senior events will advance to finals on Sunday with the top three in each event earning a berth at the Pacific Rim Championships in April.
For full results, please visit: http://www.score2u.com/default.aspx
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First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada. Gymnastics Canada works closely with the twelve Provincial Federations and the 700 local clubs to provide a broad range of programs and services to meet the needs of all participants. From athlete development, to coaching and judging education, Gymnastics Canada sets the operating standards and practices for the sport in Canada. Our mandate is to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experience through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming. Visit www.gymcan.org for more information, or follow us @CDNgymnastics.
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