Alternate spots for Jo Nationals/Easterns/Westerns?

[justanothergymmom]

If a competitor has to drop out of Nationals for some reason, how does their spot get filled? Does it automatically go to the next alternate in the region that the gymnast dropping out is from? Or does the spot go to the highest scoring alternate, regardless of region?

 

[wandrewsjr]

The alternate from that region(same age group) would get the spot, provided they scored at least a 34 at regionals. The spot would only go to another region if there are no other athletes in the original region who scored a 34 at regionals. The region who took first place at nationals last year gets first dibs on the spot if this is the case.

 

[justanothergymmom]

Thanks! Makes perfect sense.