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| Sunday, August 20, 2006 |  |
Johnson claims first National title
By splitleap @ 8:09 AM :: 3013 Views ::
0 Comments :: Gymnastics News, Splitleap Article |  |
Gymnasts were all over the place in the first rotation of the junior women’s U.S. National Championship final. Falls, steps out of bounds, steps on landings. It took Shawn Johnson on her “weakest” event to hit a routine and set a competitive pace.
Johnson, in first place after day one, nailed her Jaeger and Geinger releases, and stuck her full-twisting double layout dismount for a 15.20. She moved to balance beam, where she was solid on her ff, ff, layout series for the highest score of the meet with a 16.20.
Johnson was a dynamo on floor, sticking her double double and full-in. She smiled during her dance and seemed to know she was halfway toward winning the championship. The judges gave her only a 15.55, awarding her just 6.1 in difficulty—too low for such a wonderful routine.
Johnson needed only to stand up her Yurchenko full, and she did just that. She took a step on the landing and scored a 15.45. Her 124.10 cumulative total was four points higher than second-place finisher Bianca Flohr.
Flohr struggled somewhat during the competition, opening on floor. She landed low on her piked full-in and bounced forward. She landed low again on her last pass (double pike) and scored a 14.65. She vaulted a nice Yurchenko 1 1/2 , but lost ground on bars when she fell on a Tkatchev. Flohr had to count another fall on balance beam when she put her hand down on her double pike.
Bronze-medalist Samantha Peszek could have capitalized on Flohr’s mistakes had she not made a few of her own. Peszek began on beam, wobbling on a sheep jump and landing low on her double pike dismount. Her 14.70 was only slightly lower the 14.90 she received on the day one when she hit her beam routine.
Peszek’s floor routine was not tumbled as brilliantly as day one, but she still managed to score a 15.30. Her double double opening pass was slightly low and she slipped a bit on the landing of her 2 ½, front full. She vaulted a Yurchenko double (step) and headed to her final event. She stuck her double-twisting double layout from bars for a 15.05.
WOGA’s Rebecca Bross clinched fourth place with lovely lines and difficult tricks on beam (Arabian; Onodi; front somi). GAGE’s Ivana Hong had an off day (lots of low landings) but still managed to claim fifth place.
Shantessa Pama, 16th after day one, improved her bar routine somewhat, but again hit her heel on her Li Li release. She stuck her hecht back (Mukhina) dismount for a 15.10. She performed a great beam routine, but took two steps on her double pike dismount. Pama’s floor routine was a highlight of the evening. She performed one of the few floor routines with any actual choreography. She stepped out of bounds twice though, and it took her score down to 14.20.
Other notable juniors include Samantha Shapiro (All Olympia). Though she finished 13th, she is a beautiful performer with elegant lines reminiscent of the Soviets of yore. GAGE gymnasts Rachel Updike and Sarah DeMeo look like little Courtney McCools on balance beam and floor exercise—pleasures to watch. Petra Matthies of Brestyan’s has the same difficulties on uneven bars as gym mate Alicia Sacramone, but is a powerhouse on floor and beam.
Johnson claimed three of the four event titles (vault, beam, floor), while Bianca Flohr won the bars title.
1. Johnson 124.100
2. Flohr 119.950
3. Peszek 119.450
4. Bross 116.400
5. Hong 116.250
6. Corrie Lothrop 115.550
7. DeMeo 115.100
8. Catherine Nguyen 114.200
9. Jordyn Wieber 114.050
9. Pama 114.050
11. Cassie Whitcomb 113.450
12. Updike 113.400
13. Shapiro 113.350
14. Christa Tanella 113.200
15. Amy Borsellino 112.600
16. Katelyn Mohr 111.950
17. Kytra Hunter 111.750
18. Olivia Courtney 110.500
19. Matthies 110.400
20. Kimberly Jacob 110.150
21. Randi Lau 109.100
22. Rachel York 108.950
23. Madison Turchin 108.550
24. Shelby Salmon 108.050
25. Ashley Stott 108.000
26. Hannah Toussaint 106.900
27. Erica Smith 106.650
28. Michelle Shealy 105.950
29. Sarie Morrison 104.800
30. Taylor Schick 104.000
31. Rheagan Courville 99.700
32. Bridget Sloan 89.800 (did not compete floor exercise)
Event Titles (combined totals for both days)
Vault:
1. Johnson 30.75
2. Pezek 30.50
3. Lothrop 30.40
Uneven Bars:
1. Flohr 30.65
2. Johnson 30.35
3. Peszek 30.25
Balance Beam:
1. Johnson 32.0
2. Bross 30.80
3. Sloan 29.85
Floor Exercise:
1. Johnson 31.0
2. Flohr 29.80
3. Matthies 29.35
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