Uneven Bars

Soviet women lead world gymnasticsThe Soviet Union, led by women's world champion Svetlana '' Boguinskaia, took the early lead over the United States yesterday in the World Gymnastics Championships in Indianapolis.The Soviet Union led the team scoring after the compulsories with 197.371 points. The United States is second going into today's optionals with 196.208.Boguinskaia's performance included scores of 9.950 on the uneven bars and floor exercise and a 9.937 on the beam.Romania, the only country to beat the Soviet Union at the World Championships in the last decade, was third with 195.795, with China fourth with 195.270.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Dominique Dawes won the all-around title in the gymnastics World Team Trials last night and will lead one of the United States' strongest teams to the World Team Championships next month in Germany.Dawes, 17, from Gaithersburg, won the all-around title with a score of 77.960. She led all eight rounds of the two-day meet at the Richmond Coliseum and last night had two scintillating performances in the uneven bars and vault.The top six finishers from yesterday's field of 14, plus two-time world champion Shannon Miller, who did not participate, will represent the United States.

To understand what makes Courtney Kupets the best women's gymnast in the country, you have to stop the action. Look at photos of her on the uneven bars, the vault, even the 4-inch-wide balance beam. Upside down, right side up, somehow the two-time U.S. champion keeps her body as taut as an archer's bowstring. "She's the best. So strong, so straight. Others are very good, but she's picture perfect - literally. Everything is a straight line," says Paul Ziert, the publisher of International Gymnast magazine and former coach of two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner.

GymnasticsPam Bradley of Columbia gave herself an early Christmas present last week, capturing first place in the all-around and all four events in the Level 8, 14-15 division of the Docksiders Gymnastics Club's Christmas in Annapolis meet.Bradley took top honors in the balance beam (9.05), floor exercise (8.9), uneven bars (8.55) and vault (8.3) for a winning all-around score of 34.80.Another Howard County native, Ellicott City's Amy Walton, won the all-around gold medal in the Level 9, 16-up division with a 34.2.

Danielle Magnes' stubbornness constantly gets the best of her. And right now, its getting the best of the Mount Hebron gymnast's opponents, too.If Magnes senses a lapse in any personal performances, she'll try to refine it until, in her mind, it's immaculate. Vikings coach Lisa Michael calls it a "good stubbornness," one that has helped Magnes become one of the top gymnasts in the county."When things aren't going right for Danielle, she's not willing to give up on it," Michael said. "She does it over and over and over again until it's perfect.

Indoor soccer* Under-16 girls -- The Severna Park Soccer Association Kickers improved their record to 8-0 with a 15-5 win over the St. Mary's Saints last Thursday at Myers Pavilion.Tracy Mrazeck (North County) led the way with eight goals, one assist and three saves. Teammate Chrissy Kohlhepp of Chesapeake added three goals and two assists. Jen Mook (Old Mill), Laura Basil (Chesapeake), Missy Silver (Chesapeake) and Tara Theis (Northeast) each tallied one goal and one assist. Silver also was credited with four saves.

BARCELONA, Spain -- She has survived the gunfire at Entebbe and the governments of a dictator and communism. Her parents are immigrants, who left her in Romania for the freedom of America and later borrowed $20,000 to send her to Bela's Gym in Houston.American gymnast Betty Okino could become one of the 1992 Summer Games' biggest success stories, but she still has to complete the final chapter:Can Okino overcome the rash of injuries that set her back in the last year to win a medal? Competition begins today.

BOSTON - Columbia gymnast Elise Ray wasn't perfect on the final night of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team Trials, but it was a perfect evening nonetheless. Ray held her place at the top of the combined rankings and was trumpeted by national team coordinator Bela Karolyi as "the leader" of the newly chosen women's team, but she was even happier to learn that her training partner, Olympic medalist Dominique Dawes, would be joining her at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, next month.

The Top Flight Gymnastics Club of Columbia played host last weekend at the Columbia Challenge Women's Invitational at the University of Maryland's North Gym.But the local team was anything but a cordial host.Top Flight pulled out a variety of new and previously untested maneuvers, en route to another stellar performance."The teams did well," said Top Flight owner and optionals coach Dale Kaestner, who said many team members tried higher-risk skills in preparation for April's state meet. "We put a lot of new, more difficult elements into the routines.

Perna Gymnastics Club's Sean Ruth and Nick Willet ranke among the leaders in almost every event in this weekend's USA Gymnastics-sponsored boys state championships at the Fairland Athletic Club in Prince George's County to qualify for April's regionals at West Point.Competing at Level 6, Ruth (7-8 age bracket) scored 5.20 on floor exercises (fourth place), 5.40 on pommel horse (eighth), 4.50 on rings, 5.10 on vault (third), 5.30 on parallel bars (fifth), 5.10 on horizontal bars (sixth) and 30.60 all-around (fourth)