A contingent of nine gymnasts from the Duncan Dynamics had a strong showing at the provincial championships in Kamloops last month.
Leading the way and setting an example for their younger teammates were Dynamics veterans Darby McIntyre, Micaylla Broadway and Hayley Baker.
McIntyre was among the top performers in the Level 5 Novice division and earned herself a spot on Team BC for the Western Canadian Championships with an allaround silver medal. McIntyre also won gold on floor and vault, and completed her shoot-over on the bars for the first time to claim a bronze medal.
Broadway and Baker competed in the National Open category. Broadway improved her top overall score by more than two points, while placing seventh on bars and ninth on beam. Her score of 12.65 on vault was her highest of the year. Baker had a score of 13.30 on vault to collect a bronze medal, and finished 10th on bars.
The Dynamics also had six gymnasts in the Provincial Level 2 competition. In P2 Tyro (2003), Tahara Brown and Cheyenne Mackeil had their best results on vault, where Brown placed fifth and Mackeil was 13th. Brown also placed 10th on beam.
Sarah Deschamps placed fourth on floor and 10th on beam in P2 Tyro (2002). In P2 Novice (2001), Gabrielle Austin earned a gold medal on vault and silver on bars and placed sixth on floor to finish fifth all-around.
Austin was thrilled with her unexpected medal performance.
"I looked at the other girls competing, and they looked better than me," she recalled.
In P2 Novice (2000), Kylae Dalby claimed bronze on beam and finished sixth allaround. In Level 4 Novice, Keerstin Arden took bronze on beam and placed sixth on bars to place 10th all-around.
Three other Dynamics gymnasts - Samantha Johnson and Rebeca and Trystinna Bailey - also qualified for provincials but were unable to compete due to injuries and illness.