Liukin Defends Title at Nationals (20th August, 2006)

Nastia Liukin defended her US all-around title at the 2006 Visa National Championships. She held just a one-tenth lead ahead of Kelley after the first rotation, but Kelley turned in a 15.750 performance on beam to take a .650 lead after the second. Liukin’s two best events were next, and she pulled within two tenths of a point after posting 15.850 points on uneven bars in the third rotation. In the final rotation, Kelley scored 14.850 points on vault for a double-twisting Yurchenko. Despite problems with her flip flop-layout-whip series on the beam, Liukin’s clean execution elsewhere was good enough for 15.550 points and her second all-around title by half a point.

‘To win juniors two years in a row and seniors two years in a row is pretty incredible,’ Liukin said. ‘It’s amazing to be on top and to claim the title again.’ Kelley, last year’s junior champion, was second on uneven bars and balance beam and was fourth on floor. ‘I was watching the scoreboard,’ Kelley said. ‘I think it helped my confidence going into the last to events to know that I was leading the field.’

Event champions included Alicia Sacramone on vault, who holds this event’s world title. Liukin on uneven bars and balance beam and Sacramone and Randi Stageberg tied for the floor title.

The top 12 women in each division automatically qualified to the 2006 U.S. National Team. Up to four additional athletes in each division may be added to the team by the women’s selection committee.

All-Around Seniors
1. Nastia Liukin 123.700
2. Natasha Kelley 123.200
3. Jana Bieger 123.000
4. Chellsie Memmel 121.400
5. Alicia Sacramone 121.000
6. Ashley Priess 120.900
7. Kassi Price 116.900
8. Amber Trani 115.200
9. Christine Nguyen 115.050
10. Randi Stageberg 114.200
11. Jacquelyn Johnson 113.850
11. Kayla Hoffman 113.850
13. Britney Ranzy 112.800
13. Morgan Evans 112.800
15. Cortni Beers 111.700
16. Hillary Mauro 111.050
17. Geralen Stack-Eaton 110.750
18. Alaina Johnson 109.850

Vault
1. Alicia Sacramone 31.275
2. Jana Bieger 30.300
3. Kassi Price 29.175

Uneven Bars
1. Nastia Liukin 32.250
2. Natasha Kelley 31.500
3. Kassi Price 31.350

Balance Beam
1. Nastia Liukin 31.850
2. Natasha Kelley 31.600
3. Jana Bieger 31.200

Floor Exercise
1. Randi Stageberg 30.650
1. Alicia Sacramone 30.650
3. Chellsie Memmel 30.600