2018 Worlds Qualifications – Subdiv 5

Team USA started on bars  with a clean routine from Morgan Hurd (14.466/6.1). Morgan will be the first gymnast to compete for the US on 3 events today; given her World AA champion status there have been questions whether this starting position is the best for Morgan and whether this will hurt her AA qualification chances, given that scores tend to increase during a rotation.  Morgan brings experience and calm to the team, if Morgan likes to go first, maybe this will not be such a bad call after all. Exhibit 1 – her bars performance.

McCallum goes up second with a clean routine (Chow II to Tkachev, Pak, Chow I, toe on full to full in dismount): some flexed feet but good routine 14.100/5.600;

Riley McCusker also goes clean but misses some key connections:  stalder full, Maloney, Tkachev, Ricna, Pak, van Leeuwen, double front 1/2 low  with big step forward 14.133/ 5.700

Simone Biles, agony and ecstasy in one routine:  almost went over on a cast to handstand on the high bar, seemed to have difficulties controlling the stalder full, but the routine was good otherwise, and all corrections were done on time;  she finishes with a massive double-double dismount 14.866/6.200;

Surprise: Simone and likely Morgan will advance to the UB final. Riley looks devastated after her routine even if it was a pretty good one, she had hoped to do much more.

On beam Morgan goes up first again: standing full with wobble (bent at the hips), side aerial, flick loso (leg up), aerial to two jumps, another check, Too many checks!! side 1/2 jump, nice switch ring leap, double pike with hop back 13.466/5.4;

Riley couldn’t shake off the disappointment of the bars routine and falls on her acro series 13.100/ 5.500 (huge for a routine with a fall!)

Kara Eaker is the picture of composure during her routine and hits EVERYTHING; only some form issues but no visible wobbles, Y turn, aerial to ring jump to flick, side aerial to loso, loso, side somi, 2 1/2 dismount 14.466 / 6.400. That will do it for the beam final.

Can Simone join? Triple turn, Barani, flick -loso,loso, witch leap, switch 1/2, pike front big check, aerial to two jumps, full in dismount with step back 14.800/6.400. She cruises though straight to the event final, in first position so far.

On floor Morgan goes up first again: double double, DLO well controlled, switch leap, switch leap 1/1, front 1/1 double pike with hop back. Great routine! 13.933/5.500

Grace McCallum also delivers a good set: Silivas stuck, front 1/1, double wolf turn, triple full with hop back (messy legs), double back tuck with small hop. Nice landings, not very inspiring dance 13.800/5.500

McCusker is up next full in pike (good landing), 1/1 to punch front to stag, triple wolf turn, double back pike, bounces oob, stuck double back tuck 13.266/5.3 -.3

Simone finally unleashed: Moors with hop back, Biles to stag,  front 1/1 to full in, Silivas hop back. I looked like no OOBs so the final score, her highest this year, is well deserved:15.333 6.700.

The US team finishes on vault: McCusker: 14.266/5.4 for her DTY, crossed legs, chest low, step forward. Grace McCallum, nice DTY with hop back 14.6/5.4 for 2nd vault she does half om with 1/1 tuck easy, step back 13.533, 14.066 average; Hurd: strong DTY with hop back (messy legs, slightly deviated),  14.600/5.4 56.465 all around total

Can Simone make history again? She sat both vaults (Cheng with extra half twist and Amanar) during warmup. She was in teh ER until 1 am because of the kidney stone pain, will she have the stamina for her incredibly difficult vaults? Competition adrenaline gives her an extra boost and she his the first vault: half on 2/1 (now the Biles) with teeny hop, 15.966; she also lands the Amanar with step fwd for 2nd vault 15.366 and an average of 15.666.

Simone and Morgan qualify for the all around final; Simone will be in all 4 event finals for sure. Morgan could  join her for bars and maybe floor, Kara Eaker will likely be in the beam final while Grace McCallum could qualify for the vault final.

In the same subdivision the team from Slovakia finished with 139.764 (16th for the moment), while New Zealand had a team total of 135.764.

Meahan Smith from Ireland had an all around total of 46.866 after a beam disaster.

Here are the standings after 5 subdivisions:

All Around:

Article: Bea Gheorghisor

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