Sports Shorts

The World Cup Starlites, an all-star cheerleading team based in Freehold, won the International Junior World Championship in Orlando, Fla. The Starlites competed against teams from throughout the U.S. as well as teams from Japan, Australia, England, Mexico, Canada and Chile.

To qualify for the world championships, teams have to have won a major competition from a sponsoring member. The Starlites won the Spirit Festival held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., where they were also grand champions.

Making up the Starlite team that won the international competition were: Gina Antonelli, Taryn Appelbaum, Nicole Branden, Juliette Bronisevsky, Toni Bronisevsky, Jenna Drucker, Alexa Fontana, Kara Furhman, Lexus Guarino, Shauna Harris, Katelyn Hoban, Danielle Hunt, Alyssa Jones, Tessa Konczylo, Rebecca Lamothe, Amanda Lucisano, Molly McMillan, Briana Mosher, Kristen Murray, Nicolette Nuccio, Jordan Paley, Gianna Pepe, Lauren Pisarcik, Jaclyn Polenz, Tori Ratte, Kelsey Rule, Gabrielle Sarcone, Alyssa Scardelli, Michelle Slog, Lyndsay Solomon, Brooke Sparacio, Natalie Thompson, Karlye Wilson and Kelly Yeager.

The Starlites are coached by Denise Maldonado and Angel DeJesus.

ESPN will be airing the International Junior World Championship competition Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Battle of Monmouth Fireball U12 girls Monmouth-Ocean Soccer Association National 4 team is seeking players. The Fireballs are an independent club and accepts girls from all area towns. To be eligible, players must be born between Aug. 1, 1995, and July 31, 1996. For more information, contact Tom King at (732) 299-0026 or e-mail TJKing2@aol.com.

Colts Neck head cross country and track and field coach Jim Schlentz and his wife, Madeline Noe-Schlentz, a record-breaking master's runner, are among the top coaches and runners who will be featured at the USA Cross Country Forum, sponsored by Nike. The forum will be held Aug. 8 in Wilson Auditorium on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack.

Among the other speakers will be Matt Centrowitz (American University and former American record holder in the 5,000 meters), Bill Aris (coach of Fayetteville-Manlius High School) and Pat Tyson (University of Kentucky).

Bill Dellinger, former University of Oregon head coach and a silver medalist in the 5,000 meters at the 1964 Olympics, is the special guest.

The cost is $99 before July 15, and $125 thereafter. Extras include free breakfast and lunch, a Nike briefcase and other extras. The online site is www.xccoachesforum.com. For additional information, call (732) 687-2665.

Kristen Politz, a third-grader at Defino Central Elementary School in Marlboro, broke the existing state record (for ages 7-8) on the floor exercise with a 9.700 at the 2007 USA Gymnastics Level 5 New Jersey State Championships. Competing among qualifying 8-year-old gymnasts, Politz won the state championship on floor and uneven bars (with a 9.725). Her all-around score of 38.200 was second highest among 8-year-olds and third highest among all the 330 qualifying Level 5 gymnasts, ranging in age from 7 to 12 years old. Politz trains at Rebound Gymnastics in Cliffwood, which took third in the team competition at the state championships. During the summer, she will continue local training, attend simulated National Team Training Camp in Virginia Beach, and test for TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program). TOPs is a national talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 7-11 and their coaches. During the months of June and July, gymnasts are evaluated on physical abilities at the state or regional level. From there, Kristen and other athletes (ages 9-11) can be invited to participate in the National TOP test that is conducted in the month of October at the Women's National Team Training Center in Texas, where they will be evaluated again on the same physical abilities along with gymnastics skills. Athletes can finally be invited to participate in the National TOP Training camp, which takes place in December of each year, also in Texas.