Sunday, 07 August 2016 18:37

Olympics Prelims: Women's Qualifying

The US Women dominated the qualifying competition at the Olympics, outdistancing the field by hitting 16 for 16 and outpacing 2nd place China by nearly 10 points, 185.238 to 175.279.  (The format is four up, three count.  It shifts to three up, three count in the finals).  Simone Biles was sensational, showing only a few nerves en route to posting the highest scores of qualifying on three of four events to keep her quest for five gold medals alive.  UCLA signee Madison Kocian posted the high score of the day on UB to qualify to that final. 

Biles outpaced teammate Aly Raisman 62.366 to 60.607 to lead the AA qualifiers.  Olympic Champion Gabrielle Douglas posted a 60.131 for third but won't advance to the finals due to the two per country rule.  Raisman also qualified to the FX final, while Douglas made the UB final.  Fifth US team member Laurie Hernandez qualified to the BB final.  

Former DU star Jessica Lopez Arocha placed 14th AA and qualified to the AA final and the UB final.   Canada's Brittany Rogers is the first alternate to the VT final, after hitting her upgraded vault (round-off half on, front layout will a full twist off).  LSU signee Ruby Harrold competed three events for Great Britain, with counting scores on UB and FX.    

The rest of team qualifying was very close, with Russia at 174.62, Great Britain at 174.064, host Brazil at 174.054, Germany 173.263, Japan 172.564, and the Netherlands 171.929.  Canada placed a disapppointin 9th at 171.761, with a rough start on beam and a fall on Roger's UB set (Van Leeuwen).  

Several others with NCAA connections completed their Olympics:  Former Iowa star Houry Gebeshian, competing for Armenia, placed 38th AA with a 53.848, hitting four for four.  She also successfully competed a new move that was submitted to be named after her, a full twisting hecht mount on the UB.  It is rated a "D".   In 41st, Boise State signee Courtney McGregor posted a 53.165.  Her future Bronco teammate Isabella Amado of Panama was 44th at 52.832.  Former DU star Simona Castro of Chile was 52nd (51.399) while current Cal star Toni-Ann Williams, representing Jamaica, was 54th (50.966).  Bama commit Kylie Dickson, competing for Belarus, was 58th.          

Link:  Results

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