SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 20, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The University of Utah fell short in its bid for an NCAA gymnastics championship Saturday, finishing third for the fourth consecutive season.
Louisiana State scored a 198.225 to win its first national gymnastics title, topping California (197.850), Utah (197.800) and Florida (197.4375) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Red Rocks led by .0375 heading into the final rotation but fell to third place, in part due to LSU’s beam team scoring an NCAA championship record 49.7625.
Utah’s Grace McCallum posted the top mark on uneven bars at the meet, scoring a 9.9500. The junior from Isanti, Minnesota, notched scores of 9.9 or above in each event to finish third in the all-around scoring.
Maile O’Keefe, Abby Paulson and Jaylene Gilstrap all posted 9.9250 scores on floor exercise for Utah, tying for the third-best mark in the event. O’Keefe also added a 9.9 on bars.
Ashley Glynn and Makenna Smith each notched 9.9125 scores on vault, while McCallum and Jaedyn Rucker added 9.9s.
McCallum scored a 9.9375 on beam, followed by Amelie Morgan with a 9.9125.
The Red Rocks qualified for the NCAA championships for the 48th consecutive year. Utah is the only school in the nation to have appeared at every national championship meet.
