Xavier Gym Junkies Pumped For Nsw Titles
Newcastle Herald
Saturday June 20, 1998
AEROBICS FOR most people, the terms grapevine, corkscrew and round the world would more than likely be heard around a dinner table.
But for eight St Francis Xavier students, the same words, which describe aerobics manoeuvres, have meant hours of energy-sapping footwork on the gym floor.
Two St Francis Xavier teams have entered the State finals of the NSW school aerobics championships to be held in Bankstown this weekend.
The four-girl teams will compete in the open secondary section and hope to qualify for the Australian finals in Melbourne in August.
Teams have only one chance to impress the judges with their 1min 45sec routine.
Each routine includes compulsory components such as strength, flexibility, dynamics, jumps, turns and kicks, all performed to music. The routine is marked out of 100, of which 60% is based on skill and 40% on presentation.
St Francis Xavier teacher Bernadette Duggan described their routine, titled Disco Inferno, as a high-energy strength routine.
`It's an explosive, powerful routine,' she said.
`The majority of the girls have a gymnastics background, which is a good grounding for aerobics.'
While the technical side of the routine is very important, Duggan believed the girls' bubbly personalities would be an advantage.
`You can tell they really enjoy what they are doing,' she said.
`They have worked very hard for the past two months and hopefully that work will pay off.'
The squad is: Elisha Ankeney, Dana Penifold, Rebecca Massman, Anne Flanagan, Jade McFadden, Sam Sullivan, Tahley Hector and Nicole Gardner. ? James Gardiner
© 1998 Newcastle Herald
