Women's senior nationals hit a really low moment when defending champ Rebecca Bross crashed her Yurchenko double vault. She dislocated her knee and had to be carried off the floor. This ended her night, and maybe her season as well.
Besides Bross' heartbreaking injury, the competition was much better overall than prelims. Jordyn Wieber walked away with the title by more than 6 points -- after nailing the bar and beam sets she'd been shaky on in prelims. She won the bars and floor titles and should be a favorite to win all-around at worlds in October.
McKayla Maroney jumped from fifth after night one to second overall with a great competition: she rocked her Amanar vault, as she always does, and hit the double Arabian last pass she'd missed on floor in prelims. I love this girl -- she's got great lines and form, and is deceptively powerful as well. I think she'll only get better as she gets more competitive experience.
Chellsie Memmel performed well on three events (with watered down difficulty on vault), before coming off on bars on a blind full. She got up, tried again, and fell again, and then opted not to finish. Later she said she'd tweaked her shoulder, but was feeling fine.
Alexandra Raisman ended up third overall with another solid meet, while Mackenzie Caquatto finished in fourth, giving herself a great shot at the world team. She is especially useful for team USA on bars with Bross most likely out.
Alicia Sacramone won the beam title, and made her floor set, with a front though to back 2.5 instead of the back 2.5 punch front layout she'd fallen on in prelims. She was off on her Yurchenko double second vault, and Maroney managed to edge her for the vault title. (Sacramone, Maroney, and Brandie Jay were the only three gymnasts who tried for the vault title by competing two different vaults; everyone else competed only one.)
Shawn Johnson looked great for this stage in her comeback -- she hit all three events and is hoping to add floor soon. Though I think she's not strong enough yet to compete for a spot on the world team, she definitely exceeded expectations at this meet.
The women will go to a selection camp in September to pick the world team. Seven will go to worlds from there, while six will go to the Pan American Games. If I had to pick the world team today I'd go with Wieber, Maroney, Raisman, Sacramone, Caquatto and Memmel. We really need Memmel's upgraded bar set though. And Bridget Sloan, who didn't compete here, could be a great addition if she's ready.
Results from nationals:
Comments
Hey, has anybody heard anything about Mattie Larson?
I haven’t heard diddly about her since Worlds.
Is she injured, or retired….or just really boring these days, and that’s why nobody ever talks about her?
Just curious.
How is Rebecca? Does anyone know? Thanks.