ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: The United States qualified Sunday behind Russia and China, setting up a classic final for the women's team gold at the world championships. With their major challengers already through Saturday, the Americans had a 5 A.M. wake-up call for their morning session. They were fully focused from the opening on the uneven bars through to the concluding vault and finished with 233.643 points, behind Russia's 234.521 and China's 233.778. “The distance is not very big and we are here to fight for that,” US coach Martha Karolyi said. Wednesday's final will also be a first face-off between Russian newcomer Aliya Mustafina and US champion Rebecca Bross, the favorites for the individual all-around title two days later. In qualifying, Mustafina scored 60.666 for a sizable margin compared to Bross' 59.081. Alexandra Raisman of the United States was in provisional third place. Qualifying ends late Sunday. One day after 16-year-old Mustafina gave an impressive performance of power and grace, Bross came to the Ahoy Arena with a different agenda - to protect a right shin injury. Bross chose a contained program which limited her most daring moves. “You have to go for it, but you cannot go too hard,” Bross said of her approach to protecting her leg for Wednesday's team final. Her solid performance boosted her confidence, though. “There are a few things here and there - everywhere that I can clean up - but I'm ready for the next step,” she said. Alicia Sacramone made a major step forward Sunday, returning to world gymnastics after two years with a consistent beam routine capped with pumped fists and a happy “yoohoo” shout after her dismount. “It was nice to go out there and hit my first routine back. Beam is always a stressful event,” the 22-year-old gymnast said. Once that over, the seven-time world medalist got to her favorite apparatus, the vault. Her two attempts proved she was back at her best since the Beijing Olympics two years ago and she trailed only Mustafina by a tiny 15.283-15.266 margin, promising a great showdown for Saturday's apparatus final. “Vault is fun for me so I don't stress about it too much,” Sacramone said. The American women have enjoyed success over the past two years at the Beijing Olympics and last year's London world championships. The Russians meanwhile didn't win any in Beijing and London, an amazing decline of a former powerhouse. Now, they look like they rekindled that old touch.
