The reigning world champion all around gymnast put up astonishing numbers on the first of two days of competition scoring a 62.900 that was 2.450 points ahead of second place leading Raisman. Biles led with the best scores on Floor, Balance Beam and Vault. Ashton Locklear of Hamlet, North Carolina impressed the committee that would chose who would go into San Jose by scoring a 15.6 on uneven bars.
Like her, first time senior Lauren Hernandez also had the attention of Team USA as she ended the night in a tie for second finishing in third on three apparatuses. With talk of becoming champion nearly wrapped up for Biles who was trying to be the first woman in 42 years to win four straight, it was also important for the gymnasts to make the second cut and go to the US Olympic Trials.
For Douglas, it meant quite a bit as she started the first rotation in fourth place not looking like herself on the first night. She started on the uneven bar with a great connection but let it all come tumbling down on the lower bar. Despite a good finish, the judges docked her for all the mistakes coming up with a 14.500
Maggie Nichols was on balance beam as the first of two events for her showing a better result from night one showing some relaxation in her routine. It was enough to give her a 14.350. Raisman started on floor with her signature triple combination tumbling run nailing each element. The veteran gymnast kept it elegant and to her liking that paid off earning a 15.700
2015 world champion on the uneven bars Madison Kocian had a clean routine with very difficult transitions that impressed the crowd. She put a stamp of approval realizing a full twisting double back then stuck the landing and coming out of it with a 15.700
Hernandez thundered on the vault putting down a double twisting Yurchenko taking a step on the landing. Biles took center stage on the floor running her usual routine that always brought excitement to the audience. She was had another flawless performance that earned her a 16.005 still leading after the first rotation.
McKayla Skinner took two attempts on the vault to start the second rotation scoring a 15.250 in the first and 15.450 on her second that averaged to 15.350. Biles completely decimated Skinner’s score with a 16.200 and a 16 on her second that turned to a 16.300. Hernandez scored a 15.150 putting up a rock solid routine on the uneven bars that was originally a 16.300 difficulty. Raisman vaulted with the same style as Biles scoring a 15.500 on her only attempt of the night that kept her in second but was still down three and a half points to Biles.
Locklear was back on the bars flying through her routine with beautiful transitions and a solid landing that got her cheers from the crowd. The judges gave her a 15.700 with an eight tenth deduction. Hernandez had her best performance of the day on the beam having a slight balance check but had solid landings on her combination. She finished with a very fast combo that saw her stick the landing and get a 15.300. Biles had a tiny mistake at the start of her bars but finished strong with a big full twisting double back dismount for a 14.750.
Raisman was all alone in second in the third rotation with the bars being her biggest obstacle. Trying to keep her routine short and sweet, the 22-year-old coasted through scoring a 14.150 but fell 4.100 points with the fourth rotation left to go.
Hernandez finished her night with a fantastic routine on floor dancing freely along with her beautiful but difficult tumbling passes. It was enough to finish in third and in a great spot to continue impressing team coordinator Marta Karolyi. “I think the fact that I’ve been working so hard day in and day out at the gym has really paid off here,” Hernandez told NBC’s Andrea Joyce after the competition. “It shows that I can keep up with these guys and the team in Rio.”
Raisman overtook the New Jersey native for second place with a perfect routine on the beam before completing the dismount where the judges gave her a 15.300. Biles had to get through her balance beam routine before she could be crowned a four-time national champion. She had two balance checks during her run scoring a 15.100 crushing the competition that clinched her championship. “It’s another stepping stone towards the Olympic trials so I’m very excited,” Biles said.
Article Appeared @http://www.examiner.com/article/biles-wins-fourth-consecutive-u-s-gymnastics-title