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Quiet star's showing in national says it all

Jacqueline Jacobs captures five gold medals in AAU championships meet.

SPRING HILL - Jacqueline Jacobs is a little girl of few years and fewer words.

Those five gold medals say plenty, however.

Jacobs, a 5-year-old gymnast from Spring Hill, swept her age and class categories Thursday in the Amateur Athletic Union Age Group Level National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Not bad considering she is in her first season and has competed in just five meets.

"I'm very proud of her, how far she has come," said Allie Strazzullo, Jacobs' coach at Top Contenders Gymnastics Academy in Hudson. "It's amazing."

Jacobs swept the floor, balance beam, vault and bars competition and took the overall title against four other girls who produced qualifying scores in state Level 2 meets.

"We were ecstatic," said Jacobs' mother, Kristie. "When she won, we jumped up and screamed. It's an accomplishment just to get there. Everyone who gets there has accomplished something great."

Jacobs, an AAU state champion, recorded a 9.7 in the floor exercise, 9.6 on beam and 9.65 on vault, tied for first with an 8.75 on bars and captured the overall crown with a 37.7 mark. The runner-up had 37.1 points.

Jacobs said she was most proud of her effort in the floor exercise "because it's fun." She said she was "excited" and "happy."

Jacobs has performed herself out of Level 2 and will next attempt Level 4 when she turns 6. She will begin training for her first Level 4 meet, scheduled for September, 2004.

Strazzullo said Jacobs' unusually muscular body and dedication have gotten her this far. She has the aptitude to go the rest of the way, if she wishes, Strazzullo said.

"From what what me and my mother (fellow coach Beth Strazzullo) can see, she can go all the way to the Olympics if she wants," Strazzullo said.

Jacobs' 21 teammates from Top Contenders won a combined nine all-around gold medals.

- Brant James can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to brant@sptimes.com