TOKYO, Oct. 7, 2011 - After seven of 10 subdivisions, the United States led the team standings with a team total of 234.253, finishing ahead of China and Romania, respectively, at the 2011 World Championships at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. The women's qualification round, which determines which countries and athletes qualify for the finals, concludes later today. The USA's Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich., posted the top all-around score of 60.032 through the first seven subdivisions. The U.S. women's performance today also secured the United States a berth to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. The U.S. men compete tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. in the first session on the first of two days of qualifications.

The U.S. squad had all five gymnasts ranked in the top 10 in the all-around, with three subdivisions still to go that includes defending team champion Russia. Although scores do not carry forward to the final round, the USA's total team score was 3.883 ahead of China and 7.025 in front of Romania.

The women competing for the USA are: Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute; McKayla Maroney of Laguna Niguel, Calif./All Olympia AOGC; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics; Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y./Dynamic Gymnastics; and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts' Twistars USA. Team member Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics, who tore her Achilles tendon during training, has returned to the States for medical treatment, and Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC, is the alternate.

"I am very proud of this very young team and how they pulled it together after Alicia's injury," said Martha Karolyi, national team coordinator for the U.S. Women's National Team. "They were very brave and fought for the United States and for Alicia."

The U.S. women started on balance beam, earning a total 58.932 and the highest first rotation score for the championships thus far. The USA did not relinquish the lead, scoring a 57.132 on floor, 60.190 on vault and finishing up on the uneven bars with a team score of 57.999.

In the all-around, Wieber earned a 60.032 total. She executed an Amanar, which is a Yurchenko two-and-a-half, for a 15.433. Her incredible floor routine included a double-twisting, double-back mount and scored a 14.566. She also posted a 14.800 for the uneven bars and a 15.233 on the balance beam.

"I felt really good after today," said Wieber. "Our main goal as a team was to come out confident and aggressive, and I am really proud of each and every member of this team. We all did what we could to go out there, have fun and do what we can for the USA."

Raisman, who was third in the all-around after seven of 10 subdivisions, earned a 58.432 total. Her double-twisting Yurchenko vault earned a 14.666. She posted a 14.833 for her floor routine, performed to Nagila Hava that had the crowd clapping. Her first floor tumbling pass included a one-and-a-half to double Arabian punch front, a piked double Arabian, a triple full and a double-pike dismount to a jump. She also claimed a 14.000 for the uneven bars and a 14.933 on the balance beam.

"Today felt amazing," said Raisman. "I'm really happy. At first we were all really upset that Alicia wasn't here. We still really are, but we just tried to compete for her and. . . I know she'd be really proud of us."

Douglas' all-around score of 57.657 ranked fourth through seven subdivisions. On the uneven bars, she executed incredibly high Tkatchev and Pak release moves and stuck her full-twisting, double-back dismount for a 14.866. On the balance beam, her standing full was powerful, with a lot of amplitude, and she landed her back handspring, back handspring, double-tuck dismount to claim a 14.400. She also earned a 14.558 for vault and a 13.833 on floor.

U.S. Women's Team's individual event scores from the qualification round: