2024 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships Recap: Utah’s final conference bow is a four-peat
The Utah Red Rocks are the winners of the 2024 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships – a feat accomplished for the fourth straight time.
The Red Rocks claimed the final Pac-12 title as we know it before conference realignment, in which the Utes will move to the Big 12, as UCLA finished second and Cal in third.
Oregon State took a surprising lead after the first rotation of the second session. The Beavers scored a 49.550 on floor, led by Jade Carey’s perfect 10. On championship Saturday, Carey reminded everyone who is the reigning Olympic floor gold medalist by whipping out her full-twisting double layout for the first time all season.
Across the rest of the rotation, Utah would earn a needed 49.500 on bars. UCLA notched a solid 49.475 on beam, and the favorites for the title, Cal struggled with a 49.175 on vault. Though vault is Cal’s weakest event, they came in averaging a 49.352 on the event. The Bears were unable to dial in landings, resulting in a low total that would leave them in fourth after one rotation.
UCLA would take over the lead after the second rotation thanks to their best event, floor, where they earned a 49.625. The Red Rocks went to beam, where they struggled. In her return from an elite stint competing in her native United Kingdom, Amelie Morgan fell on her mount. The next two Utah routines saw a few critical bobbles. However, the back half salvaged the rotation, and Maile O’Keefe earned another perfect 10 on the event for a 49.300 total. On vault, Oregon State lacked the 10.0 start values, which caused them to drop their lead. Cal went to bars, where they did not take advantage of their best event, as they once again struggled to get sticks. They earned a 49.425, short of their normal 49.5-49.6.
Utah would take a slight 0.025 lead over the Bruins after the third rotation thanks to an incredible 49.700 on floor. UCLA would stay right behind Utah with a 49.375 on vault, while Cal slipped further from contention on beam. Beam saw eMjae Frazier shockingly fall, forcing the Bears to count a couple scores with balance checks.
Though vault is Utah’s lowest-scoring event on average, they managed an impressive 49.500 to seal the victory. UCLA got off to a rough start on bars with Chae Campbell coming off the apparatus. They would hit the rest of their other routines, but it was not enough to reclaim the lead from Utah, who won by 0.125.
Cal closed with a 49.525 on floor, their best event performance of the day, and Oregon State fell to fifth after a shaky beam rotation that forced them to count a fall. The Beavers’ beam rotation has not been consistent since they lost Ellie Weaver and Sydney Gonzales to injury earlier this season.
Along with the title win, Utah also claimed their third 198 of the season. UCLA also helped their case with their highest road score of the season, which is important ahead of regionals. Meanwhile, Cal will want to get back on track as they prepare to host one of the four regional competitions.
In the first session, Stanford got the win and another 197 score. They would take fourth overall after both sessions. They defeated their first session opponents by over half a point. In that session, Arizona State finished second, Arizona finished third, and Washington came in fourth.
Individually, UCLA’s Selena Harris took the all-around crowd with a dazzling 39.825. This score is tied with former UCLA gymnast Kate Richardson for the highest total at a Pac-12 championship. Harris was lights out across all four events, earning 9.95s on bars, beam, and floor. Her now almost automatic vault earned a 9.975, giving her the vault title. She would also tie with Carey for the uneven bars title.
Jade Carey was unable to claim what would have been a record third consecutive Pac-12 all-around title, but along with her tie for the bars title, Carey won the floor title with her 10. O’Keefe’s 10 sealed the beam title.
2024 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships Results
Team:
- Utah – 198
- UCLA – 197.875
- Cal – 197.325
- Stanford – 197.175
- Oregon State – 196.775
- Arizona State – 196.550
- Arizona – 196.475
- Washington – 196.325
Individual:
- All-Around: Selena Harris (UCLA) – 39.825
- Vault: Selena Harris (UCLA) – 9.975
- Uneven Bars: TIE Jade Carey (Oregon State), Selena Harris (UCLA) – 9.950
- Balance Beam: Maile O’Keefe (Utah) – 10.000
- Floor Exercise: Jade Carey (Oregon State) – 10.000
