Simone Biles moved into position to capture a record eighth USA Gymnastics national all-around championship, charging to the lead after the opening night of women’s competition on Friday in San Jose, Calif.
Biles, a 26-year-old who won the 2016 Olympic all-around championship, has a 59.300 score, with Shi Jones in second at 56.750 and Skye Blakely in third at 55.700.
The women’s competitors will go through another rotation on Sunday, and two-day total scores will determine the all-around and event winners.
Biles posted the day’s top score on the vault (15.700), the balance beam (14.450) and the floor exercise (14.800). She came in third behind Jones (14.900) and Blakely (14.400) on the uneven parallel bars.
“I think beam started off a little bit rough, but that’s kind of to be expected,” Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, said on the NBC Sports broadcast. “You get your nerves out of the way, and then after that it was pretty smooth sailing. I’m pretty happy with the overall meet today. My goal for the weekend is just to hit 8-for-8, and then hopefully come in on Sunday and hopefully hit a little bit of a smoother beam routine.”
She successfully performed the exceptionally difficult Yurchenko double pike on the vault.
Joscelyn Roberson came in second on the vault at 14.650, with Jones and Blakely tying for third at 14.350.
Blakely took second on the balance beam at 14.050, and Tiana Sumanasekera placed third at 13.850.
Kaliya Lincoln was runner-up to Biles on the floor exercise at 14.350, and Jones captured third at 14.050.
Reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee entered just two events, placing fifth on the balance beam at 13.650 and 22nd on the vault at 13.350.
–Field Level Media
