Gymnastics: Olympics understudy stars

New Zealand's Olympic gymnastics representatives, David Phillips and Laura Robertson, who are both recovering from injuries, emerged unscathed from the Auckland championships at the weekend.

But Robertson's performance was overshadowed by North Harbour clubmate and Sydney Games understudy Alethea Boon, who also bettered Robertson in the recent Swiss championships and scored personal bests in the Australian championships, which Robertson missed because of a knee injury.

Boon won the Auckland title with a final mark of 71.339, with Robertson finishing second on 69.057.

In the two rounds over the four women's apparatus, Boon outscored Robertson except in the first round on the beam and second round on the bars.

New Zealand Gymnastics executive director Marie Stechman said Robertson's knee showed no sign of troubling her over the two rounds at the weekend.

"But having been out for a couple of weeks, she didn't quite give a polished performance.

"All she has to do is build up her competition sharpness," Stechman said.

Boon has been cleared to be a replacement for New Zealand, if needed, at the Sydney Olympics next month.

The country's elite gymnasts will face international competition at Counties Manukau on September 2 and 4.

Robertson was New Zealand's top gymnast at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games with an all-round placing of sixth - 14 places ahead of Boon.

Phillips, who won a bronze medal in Kuala Lumpur despite a back stress fracture and who is now recovering from a similar injury, top-scored with 49.35 in the first round of the Auckland men's championship - more than 10 points clear of his nearest rival, Michael Cole.

- NZPA

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