Kayla Harrison Wins Bronze at Warsaw World Cup

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Already a two-time Junior World medalist, Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) continued to expand her senior international resume on Sunday with her bronze medal win in the 78kg division at the Warsaw World Cup in Poland.  

Harrison's medal at the USA Judo Senior A-Level Point Tournament is the second in as many weeks for the 19-year-old after she placed third at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix in Germany last week.

Harrison began her day with a win by ippon (instant win) over Daria Pogorzelec (POL), a fifth-place finisher at the 2009 Junior World Championships.  In the second round, Harrison fought four-time World Cup medalist Alena Eiglova (CZE) for a full five minutes before winning the close match by a score of a waza-ari (half-point) and a yuko (quarter-point) to Eiglova's single waza-ari.

In the quarter-finals, Harrison had a rematch with Abigel Joo (HUN) who won their last fight at the Budapest World Cup two weeks ago with Joo winning the match after Harrison committed three penalties and Joo earning a yuko score.

Harrison came back from the loss when she defeated Raquel Prieto Madrigal (ESP) by ippon to advance to the bronze medal match where she defeated Yahira Ramirez (POR) by a penalty in Golden Score.

The win is expected to move Harrison into a top-20 World Ranking when the rosters are updated later this week. 

Janine Nakao (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) also competed in the event, but lost in the first round of the 63kg division to six-time World Cup medalist Katrien Verheeke (BEL).

Complete results are as follows:

Women's 48kg
1. Amelie Rosseneu (BEL)
2. Volha Leshchanka (BLR)
3. Birgit Ente (NED)
3. Elena Benard (FRA)
5. Leandra Freitas (POR)
5. Paula Pareto (ARG)
7. Natalia Kondratieva (RUS)
7. Alexandra Podryadova (KAZ)

Women's 52kg
1. Aynur Samat (TUR)
2. Marine Richard (FRA)
3. Joana Ramos (POR)
3. Marie Muller (LUX)
5. Meriem Moussa (ALG)
5. Tugba Zehir (TUR)
7. Delphine Delsalle (FRA)
7. Elodie Grou (FRA)

Women's 57kg
1. Corina Caprioriu (ROU)
2. Juul Franssen (NED)
3. Giulia Quintavalle (ITA)
3. Andrea Chitu (ROU)
5. Michelle Diemeer (NED)
5. Alina Ten (KAZ)
7. Barbara Harel (FRA)
7.  Olena Sayko (UKR)

Women's 63kg
1. Esther Stam (NED)
2. Edwige Gwend (ITA)
3. Marta Labazina (RUS)
3. Yarden Gerbi (ISR)
5. Hilde Drexler (AUT)
5. Vera Koval (RUS)
7. Svetlana Chepurina (UKR)
7. Alexandra Sebald (GER) 

Also Competed: Janine Nakao (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE), 0-1

Women's 70kg
1. Iljana Marzok (GER)
2. Linda Bolder (NED)
3. Natalia Smal (UKR)
3. Jennifer Pizanti (ITA)
5. Kim Polling (NED)
5. Marian Urdabayeva (KAZ)
7. Katarzyna Pilocik-Klys (POL)
7. Maria Bernabeu (ESP)

Women's 78kg
1. Abigel Joo (HUN)
2. Catherine Roberge (CAN)
3. Raimonda Gedutyte (LTU)
3. Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
5. Amy Cotton (CAN)
5. Yahima Ramirez (POR)
7. Raquel Prieto (ESP)
7. Viktoriya Turks (UKR)

Women's +78kg
1. Eva Bisseni (FRA)
2. Gulzhan Issanova (KAZ)
3. Urszula Sadkowska (POL)
3. Gulsah Kocaturk (TUR)
5. Lucia Tangorre (ITA)
5. Polina Belousova (RUS)
7. Christina Krahe (GER)
7. Sandra Jablonskyte (LTU)

Tags: Janine Nakao, Janine Nakao, Kayla Harrison