Red Rocks win fourth straight Pac-12 title
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – For the fourth year in a row, the Utah Gymnastics Red Rocks claimed the Pac-12 Women’s Gymnastics Championship. Earning a score of 198.000, the fifth-ranked Utes bested second-place #11 UCLA by .125 who finished with a 197.875. Rounding out the top four, second-ranked California scored a 197.325 for a third-place finish and #20 Stanford scored a 197.175.
The Utes have now won seven of the last 10 Pac-12 Women’s Gymnastics Championships dating back to 2014.
The night was highlighted by Maile O’Keefe hitting her 15th career 10.0 score and turning around the Utah beam lineup. This was O’Keefe’s fourth 10.0 on beam this season, as she now owns the top spot all alone in the Utah record books for career 10.0 scores.
Grace McCallum was firing on all cylinders, hitting a 9.90 or above in every event on her way to scoring a 39.675 and a tie for second place in the all-around. This was the second consecutive meet McCallum has hit 9.9+ in each event during her all-around competition.
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Utah tallied four scores of 9.9+ in their opening event of the evening, starting on bars. Making her return to the Utah lineup, Amelie Morgan tallied the first of two 9.925s on bars. Grace McCallum came up in the fifth spot of the rotation for Utah, adding the second 9.925 of the rotation. Makenna Smith took the leadoff spot for the Red Rocks, scoring a 9.900 to get the evening started. Ella Zirbes followed up in the second spot of the rotation adding another 9.900 score. O’Keefe secured a 9.850 with Alani Sabado adding a 9.800 in the anchor spot of the lineup.
After the first event, Utah would come away with a score of 49.500, trailing only Oregon State who started on floor scoring a 49.550. The Bruins from UCLA opened the evening on beam, scoring a 49.475, while the Golden Bears from California tallied a 49.175 after their turn on vault.
The back half of the Utah lineup brought the rotation to life on beam, after back-to-back 9.925s and a 10.0. Grace McCallum and Abby Paulson got the momentum started scoring a pair of 9.925s for the Utes. O’Keefe took her spot atop the Utah record books for career Perfect 10s, with her final performance on the apparatus at the Pac-12 Championships, scoring her fourth 10.0 of the season and the 15th of her career. Elizabeth Gantner made her Pac-12 Championships debut, scoring a 9.725, with Smith scoring a 9.725 in the second spot of the lineup as well.
On beam, Utah scored a 49.300 to remain in second-place with a 98.800, trailing UCLA with a 99.100. Oregon State followed in third with a 98.775 and Cal came up in fourth after the second rotation with a 98.600.
All six gymnasts would score a 9.90 or above as Utah moved to floor. O’Keefe, Paulson, and Jaylene Gilstrap each scored a 9.950 to top the Red Rocks scoring effort. McCallum and Smith each tallied scores of 9.925. Jaedyn Rucker got her night started by scoring a 9.900.
After the third rotation, Utah tallied a 49.700 to take their first lead of the evening with a 148.500. UCLA remained in second place with a 148.475 with California posting a 147.800. Oregon State remained in fourth place scoring a 148.225.
McCallum records perfect 10 in win over Arizona
Rucker would tally the high-score for the Utah lineup on vault, as the Red Rocks rotated to their final event, scoring a 9.950. Camie Winger made her Pac-12 Championships debut, leading off the vault lineup and scoring a 9.925. Ashley Glynn made her championships debut, tallying her third score of 9.900 of the season. McCallum would once again come up clutch in the anchor spot of the lineup, securing her fourth 9.90 of the day. Zirbes returned to action in the second spot of the rotation scoring a 9.825. Smith scored a 9.800 in the middle of the rotation.
Utah will await its NCAA Regional destination following the conference championship weekend. The Utes will be sent to the NCAA host site of either Arkansas, California, Florida or Michigan. The 2024 NCAA Regionals will run Wednesday, April 3, through Sunday, April 7.
The 2024 NCAA Selection Show will be this Monday, March 25 on NCAA.com as Pac-12 gymnastics teams await their fate for NCAA Regionals.
Team Results
Utah – 198.000
UCLA – 197.875
California – 197.325
Stanford – 197.175
Oregon State – 196.775
Arizona State – 196.550
Arizona – 196.475
Washington – 196.325
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