HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 27, 2013 – 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, won the senior all-around title at the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Finishing behind Ross, who earned a 58.650, were Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, with 58.250 points and Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./GAGE, with 57.200 points.
2012 Olympic team gold-medalist McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All Olympia, made her return to competition at the Secret U.S. Classic. She easily won the vault title, showing her trademark Amanar and a round-off, half-on, front layout full for her second vault, averaging 15.425 points.
Ross began on the balance beam, where she sailed smoothly through a back handspring, layout series and a double-tuck dismount for a score of 14.650 points, the second-highest beam score for the senior division. After recording a 13.400 on floor exercise, Ross moved to the vault, where her clean double -twisting Yurchenko netted15.200 points. On her final event, the uneven bars, Ross won the event’s title by scoring 15.400 points. Her intricate routine featured a toe-on Shaposhnikova with a half turn, also known as a Van Leeuwen, and double layout dismount.
Ernst earned the balance beam’s highest score, 14.700, and the second-highest score on floor, 14.500. On both events, Ernst highlighted her impressive flexibility, doing a switch ring leap and a front aerial to sheep jump on beam, and her floor routine had a switch ring-full in addition to an Arabian double front into a stag jump.
Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati Gymnastics/Cincinnati Gymnastics, won the floor title with a 14.800. She tumbled a double-twisting, double tuck, a full twisting double layout, a one-and-a-half twist through to a double pike and a full twisting double tuck dismount.
The 2013 Secret U.S. Classic served as the final qualifier to the 2013 P&G U.S. Championships. Based on results from the Secret U.S. Classic, two gymnasts who had not previously qualified earned berths to the P&G Championships: Madison Desch of Lenexa, Kan./GAGE, and Erin Macadaeg of Redwood City, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics.
The 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 15-18 in Hartford, Conn., is USA Gymnastics’ national championships and determines U.S. champions and national team members. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.
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