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US
Stands Sixth in Team Vaulting After Day One at World Equestrian
Games
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Jerez
de Frontera, Spain September, 11, 2002 Vaulting
competition began on Wednesday at the 2002 World Equestrian Games
in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. After the first round of compulsories,
the U.S. team, Free Artists Creative Equestrians (FACE) of Moorpark,
CA, stands in sixth with a score of 6.668.
The
German team is currently in the lead with a score of 7.437, Switzerland
is in
second
scoring 7.339 and the team from Sweden is in third with a score
of 7.073.
Individually, two U.S. athletes are in the top ten. Pamela Geislen
of Diamond Bar, CA is in eighth in the womens division with
a score of 7.835 and Devon Maitozo of Acton, CA is in tenth in
the mens division with a score of 8.083.
Maitozo
is appearing in his sixth World Championship and was crowned Individual
World Champion at the World Equestrian Games in 1998 in Rome,
Italy. Maitozo is also the coach for the FACE team.
Pamela
Geisler is also a veteran of vaulting competing since the age
of six and is making her fifth trip to the World Championships.
Geisler was happy with her performance in the compulsories, but
is really looking forward to the Freestyle competition on Thursday.
My
performance today was pretty good, said Geisler. But
I am really excited about the Kur, thats my strong point.
Its nice to be here though, with all of the other disciplines.
Team
manager Carolyn Bland compares the sport of Vaulting to a brilliant
dance on a moving stage. Bland feels the US team will do
well under the auspices of coach Maitozo and is also looking forward
to the Freestyle.
The
U.S. Team is strong, said Bland. They have a lot of
surprises in store for the Freestyle.
Vaulting competition continues on Thursday with team and individual
Freestyle competition. Eventing also gets going with the first
day of Dressage. The Grand Prix Dressage competition that determines
the team medal concludes on Thursday.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.