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28 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, December 8, 2000 Stoffels golden at, eason-opening gymnasties mneet The torch bas been passed. Stepping into the spothight wbîch previously followed a now retired Ashley Quinn, Milton Springer Alexis Stoffels bas picked up right wbere her former teammate left off - in victory. The l5-year-old gymnast - who's assumed a leadership mile over the past year, both during training and competition- offered her strongess showing to date this past weekend in Burlington. Opening up ber provincial qualifying campaign in tierce fash- ion, she upstaged ail challengers in the Senior 1 division. Her ai around triumph was fueled by a firs-place finish on bears and bronze medal performance on bars. On both vault and floor, her efforts were good enough for fouth. "She's slowly but surely been improving, and this was by far her beat showing in the aryen years she's bren bere," said veteran coach Janet Campbell. "It's bard for Ali to make the commitment to training now that she's in bigh school. But you couldn't ask for amore focused worked and I'm deligbsrd it paid off for ber." Meanwhile, Milton deliverrd a triple tbreat in Pre-Junior 1 competition. Leading the Il -year-old threesome was Jaimi Fellows, who took second-place bonours on both bars and vault en route to securing silver overaîl. Her bears and floor routine each rankrd flfth best. Stephanie Deumer took seventb overaîl - due in large pars to a ~" ~ silver medal effort on bears and fifth on vauls - while grabbing gold on vault and fourtb on the floor was Chrissina Chimonides. The Springers' youngest representative, lO-year-old Julir Gagnon, sopped the field on bars and finished tifsb on beam. The second provincial qualifying event will be brld late next Photo by STEVE LeBLANC month in St. Catharines. Milton Springors (tram I.ft) Christina Chîmonides, Stephuni. Deumer, Alexis Stoffels, Julia Gagnon and Julin The Ontario junior championabipa are slated for May in F.llows dlsplay the medalu and rlbbons they won ut the firet provincial quallfylng avant of the samon, held las week- Sudbury while the senior showcase will be brld in April in end In Burllngton. Toronto. ,,~M anbert'Serniuk T.Ml-1ýat 2iaCt fl