ARACAJU, Brazil, Nov. 5, 2009 -- The Junior Pan American Championships, the Americas' qualifier for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Aug. 10-26, in Singapore, start Nov. 6 in Aracaju, Brazil, with the men’s competition. The women take center stage on Saturday.

The U.S. Junior Pan American Men's Team includes C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./ Gold Cup Gymnastics; Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./SCATS; Jesse Glenn of Northridge, Calif./SCATS HB; and Jake Martin of Oviedo, Fla./Orlando Metro. The field also includes teams from Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

2009 U.S. junior all-around champion Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill., Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass.; and Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y., comprise the U.S. Junior Pan American Women's Team.

The Junior Pan American Championships is the continental qualifier for North, South and Central America for the Youth Olympic Games. Six women and five men, with a maximum of one spot per country, will qualify from the event for the Youth Olympics. The gymnasts competing at the Pan American Championships will be qualifying their country to compete in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The Junior Pan Am Championships is held every two years, with the last one held in 2007.