Paris Olympics’ veteran Emma Malabuyo and the fifth-seeded University of California-Los Angeles Bruins settled for runner-up honors at the US NCAA National Gymnastics Championships on Saturday.
Second-seeded Oklahoma took the title honors with a score of 198.0125, four-tenths ahead of the Bruins, who scored 197.6125 when action ended at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
No. 7 seed Missouri was third with 197.2500 and No. 4 seed Utah was fourth with a 197.2375.
Stuck dismounts on four of six uneven bars routines on Rotation 3, pushed the Bruins’ total to 49.4000 in the event.
Chae Campbell led off by sticking her double front for a 9.8625 score, while Katelyn Rosen stuck her double layout dismount and also scored 9.8625.
The 21-year-old Malabuyo also stuck her full-twisting double back and scored 9.8875.
Also scoring for the Bruins were McGowan with a 9.8250 and Frida Esparza with a 9.7625.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, scored 49.43750 in the vault to slightly increase its lead to .3375.
“So when I look at the big picture, I’m incredibly proud of this team for getting us back here and really kick-starting the next chapter of UCLA Gymnastics,” said UCLA coach Janelle McDonald.
Chiles took three of five national titles at stake, after she topped the all-around, the uneven bars and floor exercise.
Earlier, Malabuyo’s near-perfect routine led the Bruins to the national final of US NCAA National gymnastics finals on Thursday.
Malabuyo’s routine consisted of a good back handstand, layout-stepout combo at the start, ending with a pair of back handstand before finishing and a stuck landing that gave her a season-high 9.975 in the beam exercises.
This allowed the Bruins to upset top-seeded and defending national champion Louisiana State University with their total of 197.7375 on Thursday in session two of the NCAA semifinals also at Dickies Arena in Forth Worth, Texas.
The Bruins headed into the final rotation in first place and a 49.550 beam total secured the squad a ticket to the national finals with Utah, which took first place with their 197.7375 total.
LSU landed third at 197.525, while Michigan State is fourth with its 197.3625.
Oklahoma ranked first in the first session to reach the national finals with 197.55 points, along with Missouri(197.3000).
