Posted June 18, 2006

USEF Announces Vaulting Team for 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® is pleased to announce the vaulting team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Three individual men, three individual women and one team were selected to represent the U.S. at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, August 20–September 3. The vaulting competition will take place from August 23-27, 2006.

The individual members, named in order of their ranking, are as follows:

Women selected for individual competition, including one alternate:
-Megan Benjamin, 18, from Saratoga, CA, with a final average score of 8.590;
-Elizabeth Osborn, 16, from Menlo Park, CA, with a final average score of 8.267;
-Mary McCormick, 23, from Woodside, CA, with a final average score of 8.240; and
-(Alternate) Alicen Divita, 17, from Redwood City, CA, with a final average score of 8.128.

Men selected for individual competition:
-Kenny Geisler, 25, from Diamond Bar, CA, with a final average score of 7.627;
-Todd Griffiths, 27, from Pullman, WA, with a final average score of 7.402; and
-Chris Littmann, 22, from Agoura, CA, with a final average score of 6.965.

F.A.M.E. was selected, with a final average score of 7.944, as the team to represent the United States. The F.A.M.E. vaulters are a composite team from northern and southern California and New Jersey. The team members are as follows:

-Blake Dahlgren, 22, from Sun Valley, CA;
-Devon Maitozo, 30, from Simi Valley, CA;
-Rosalind Ross, 15, from Woodside, CA;
-Megan Benjamin, 18, from Saratoga, CA;
-Katie Ritchie, 19, from Santa Cruz, CA;
-Annalise Vanvranken, 14, from Mays Landing, NJ; and
-Elizabeth Ioannou, 10, from Saratoga, CA.

The athletes were selected based on the average of their top three scores obtained at USEF-licensed competitions held from March 1–June 5, as well as the 2005 USEF National Vaulting Championships for individuals.

Photo Credit: Megan Benjamin has been chosen to compete in vaulting at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games as an individual and as a team member. Photo by Bob Weber