BAKU, Azerbaijan – Veronica Carlson (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) claimed a silver medal at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. at the 2012 Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix Finals on Saturday.

Carlson, a 2009 Junior World silver medalist, had a 2-1 record against a very competitive international field. She was defeated in the gold-medal finals by Nadya Sementsova of Azerbaijan, 0-1, 0-1. Sementsova was a 2010 European champion and placed fifth at the 2010 World Championships.

Carlson opened up with a big win, stopping 2010 World bronze medalist and 2012 European champion Henna Johansson of Sweden, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0. In the semifinals, she defeated two-time Junior World bronze medalist Chiaki Iijima of Japan, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0. 

Placing fifth was Amanda Hendey (Beaumont, Calif./King College) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Hendey was beaten by 2011 Junior World champion Yurika Ito of Japan by fall in the bronze-medal match.

She opened the event by pinning Evelina Gryvik of Sweden. Her next match was a loss to two-time European champion Yuliya Ostapchuk of Ukraine, 0-2, 0-4. 

The USA had seven athletes entered in the competition, many from the University age level.

Prize money is also provided at this event, with $10,000 for champions, $5,000 for silver medalists and $2,000 for bronze medalists.

HEYDAR ALIYEV GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan, September 22

Women’s freestyle medalists

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Anna Iwamure (Japan)
Silver – Nataliya Pulkovska (Ukraine)
Bronze – Elena Vostrikova (Russia)
Bronze – Shafag Muradzade (Azerbaijan)
5th – Kamal Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)
5th – Iryna Rybak (Ukraine)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Yu Miyahara (Japan)
Silver – Anzhela Dorogan (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Zhufiiya Jakhyarova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Roksana Zasina (Poland)
5th – Milan Dadasheva (Russia)
5th – Renata Omilusik (Poland)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold –  Kanako Murata (Japan)
Silver – Kataryzna Krawczyk (Poland)
Bronze – Tatiana Debien (France)
Bronze – Iryna Husyak (Ukraine)
5th – Aizhan Ismagulova (Kazakhstan)
5th – Gulshaharat Talassova (Kazakhstan)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Yui Sakano (Japan)
Silver –Ganna Yaslenko (Ukraine)
Bronze – Irina Netreba (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Lisa Holgersson (Sweden)
5th – Mimi Hristova (Bulgaria)
5th – Juliya Satymbekova (Kazakhstan)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Anastasija Grigorjeva (Latvia)
Silver –Yuliya Ostapchuk (Ukraine)
Bronze – Yurika Ito (Japan)
Bronze – Inna Trazhukova (Russia)
5th – Amanda Hendey (USA)
5th – Maryana Kvyatkovska (Ukraine)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold – Nadya Sementsova (Azerbaijan)
Silver –Veronica Carlson (USA)
Bronze – Chiaki Iijima (Japan)
Bronze – Sara Dosho (Japan)
5th – Henna Johansson (Sweden)
5th – Mariya Zaitseva (Kazakhstan)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Jenny Fransson (Sweden)
Silver – Kateryna Burmistrova (Ukraine)
Bronze – Agnieszka Wieczczek (Poland)
Bronze – Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia)
5th – Nataliya Palmarchuk (Azerbaijan) 

U.S. women freestyle performances

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Samantha Klingel, Kresgeville, Pa. (King College)
LOSS Yu Miyahara (Japan), 0-6, 0-7
LOSS Renata Omilusik (Poland), 0-2, 0-4

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas (King College)
LOSS Renata Omilusik (Poland), 0-1, 0-1

55 kg/121 lbs. – Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Salmaz Hasimadze (Azerbaijan), 0-3, 6-0, 4-2
LOSS Iryna Husyak (Ukraine), 0-8, 1-3

59 kg/130 lbs. – Audrey Morehouse, Moreno Valley, Calif. (OKCU Gator Women’s RTC)
LOSS Lisa Holgersson (Sweden), 0-1, 1-1, 1-1

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Melissa Apodaca, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS Hanna Beliayeva (Azerbaijan), pin

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif., (King College), 5th
WIN Evelina Gryvik (Sweden), pin
LOSS Yuliya Ostapchuk (Ukraine), 0-2, 0-4
LOSS Yurika Ito (Japan), pin

67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Henna Johansson (Sweden), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
WIN Chiaki Iijima (Japan), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
LOSS Nadya Sementsova (Azerbaijan), 0-1, 0-1