title image via Talladega Tornadoes
Courtesy of Talladega Gymnastics
The USAG Collegiate Championship Committee announced on Thursday, March 28 the teams and individuals that have qualified for the 2024 USAG Collegiate National Championships. Qualification is based upon each team and individual’s National Qualifying Score (NQS). The championships will be hosted by West Chester University at the Hollinger Field House on April 12-14. College institutions offering no more than 8 full, countable, financial aid awards for women’s gymnastics are eligible to qualify for this national championship.
The top six teams earning a berth into the competition are: Lindenwood University (195.94 NQS), Texas Woman’s University (195.575 NQS), the US Air Force Academy (195.155 NQS), Brown University (194.21 NQS), West Chester University (193.955 NQS), and Cornell University (193.87 NQS).
In the NCAA individual qualification process, the top six all-around athletes with a minimum 37.6 NQS, and top 14 individual event specialists with a minimum 9.55 NQS on each event who are not on one of the qualifying teams will earn a berth to the championship. For NAIA division athletes, the same qualification process applies with the limitation of one athlete for all-around and each individual event. This limitation would not apply in the event that all six all-around and/or 14 event specialists spots are not filled.
Alexa Chuy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey) will represent Talladega in the all-around with a NQS of 38.155. Chuy competed in all eight of Talladega’s meets in the all-around with a season-high score at the most recent Nashville Collegiate Invitational (38.65). Edging into the open spot and joining her fellow Tornado is Kyrstin Johnson (Baltimore, Maryland) with a NQS of 37.875 in the all-around.
Landyn Williams (Buford, Georgia) earned a spot on vault with a 9.61 NQS. Williams has been a top contributor on vault for the Tornadoes this season, performing a clean tucked yurchenko full.
On the uneven bars, Kiora Peart-Williams (Ontario, Canada) qualified with a NQS of 9.695. Peart-Williams recently scored her career-high score at the Nashville Collegiate Invitational (9.8). Jamilia Duffus (Kingston, Jamaica) earned the open spot on the uneven bars with a NQS of 9.58.
Alondra Maldonado (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) will represent Talladega on the balance beam and floor exercise. Maldonado qualified with a 9.785 NQS on the beam and a 9.765 NQS on the Floor. Maldonado has been the anchor for the Tornadoes on these two events this season, exhibiting grace and power alongside consistently high scores.
Preliminary Competition will begin on Friday, April 12 at 2 p.m. ET as Johnson starts her championship competition. Chuy, Williams, Peart-Williams, Duffus, and Maldonado start competition at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are on sale HERE. Fans should check West Chester University’s Athletics Webpage for live streaming and scoring updates.
The Individual Event Finals will take place on Sunday, April 14. Athletes who qualify for the finals will be notified after competition is concluded, with verified scores, on Friday evening.
