Simone Biles claims Junior Title at 2012 Secret Classic

May 26, 2012 by Danny Sierra

Simone Biles of Bannon's won the junior competition at the 2012 Secret U.S. Classic, scoring 58.15 to top Madison Desch of GAGE (57.35) and Amelia Hundley of CGA (57.25) in Chicago, Ill.

Biles was hot out of the gate, hitting a massive Amanar vault for a 16.05 and the lead after one rotation. She made it through bars (13.5) and beam (14.05), albeit tentatively, and hit a fantastic floor routine (14.55) to clinch the win, including a double layout immediate stag jump.

Madison Desch was the leader after three events, performing big skills throughout the competition. She began on beam where she showed a new series, ending in a full-twisting back layout. Her score of 14.55 was the high score of the day. On floor, Desch mounted with an impressive whip immediate double arabian to stag jump (14.55) and vaulted a double-twisting Yurchenko (14.7). Bars was Desch's weak event, but her 13.55 was enough for second place.

Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy's Amelia Hundley finished just shy of Desch in third place. Hundley was solid through all four events, opening the meet with a strong Yurchenko double twist (14.45). Hundley hovered around the 14 mark all day, scoring 14.1 on bars, 14.45 on beam (standing full) and 14.25 on floor.

Hundley's teammate from CGA, Lexie Priessman, finished fourth (57.05) after nearly sitting down her Amanar in the first rotation (14.15). Lexie bounced back on floor exercise, hitting a double-double mount and posting the high score of 14.65.

Reigning U.S. Junior Champion Katelyn Ohashi only competed two events at the Classic and suffered an uncharacteristic fall on her full-twisting layout on beam. Ohashi impressed on bars with a new routine, earning a 14.95, the highest score on the event.

The Secret Classic serves as the final qualifier to the 2012 Visa Championships, June 7-10, in St. Louis, Mo.

Gymnasts who scored above a 52.5 in the all-around qualified to Visa Championships. Ariana Guerra, Polina Shchennikova, Megan Skaggs and Lauren Hernandez met the qualifying score, joining the 17 additional gymnasts who have already qualified.

2012 Secret U.S. Classic

Junior division final results

All-Around

1. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 58.150

2. Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan., 57.350

3. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 57.250

4. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 57.050

5. Bailie Key, Coppell, Texas, 56.600

6. Peyton Ernst, Coppell, Texas, 55.000

7. Ariana Guerra, League City, Texas, 54.050

8. Veronica Hults, Allen, Texas, 53.300

9. Polina Shchennikova, Arvada, Colo., 53.050

10. Megan Skaggs, Marietta, Ga., 52.550

11. Lauren Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J., 52.500

12. Maggie Nichols, Little Canada, Minn., 52.400

13. Ashley Foss, Towaco, N.J., 52.250

14. Lacy Dagen, Pleasaton, Calif., 51.850

14. Ashton Kim, Westlake, Texas, 51.850

16. Amanda Huang, Roswell, Ga., 51.250

17. Taylor Lawson, Macungie, Pa., 50.900

18. Alexis Beucler, Findlay, Ohio, 50.700

19. Shannon McNatt, Houston, Texas, 50.650

20. Nicole Lehrmann, Cedar Park, Texas, 50.550

21. Taylor Krippner, Houston, Texas, 49.100

22. Katelyn Ohashi, Plano, Texas, 28.900

23. Jessica Wang, Chino Hills, Calif., 25.450

24. Meredith Sylvia, Macungie, Pa., 12.750

TOP 8 Individual Events:

Vault

1. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 16.050

2. Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan., 14.700

3. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 14.450

4. Bailie Key, Coppell, Texas, 14.400

5. Peyton Ernst, Coppell, Texas, 14.250

6. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 14.150

7. Maggie Nichols, Little Canada, Minn., 13.950

8. Lacy Dagen, Pleasaton, Calif., 13.850

Uneven bars

1. Katelyn Ohashi, Plano, Texas, 14.950

2. Polina Shchennikova, Arvada, Colo., 14.400

3. Ariana Guerra, League City, Texas, 14.100

3. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 14.100

5. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 13.950

6. Bailie Key, Coppell, Texas, 13.900

7. Peyton Ernst, Coppell, Texas, 13.700

8. Veronica Hults, Allen, Texas, 13.600

Balance beam

1. Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan., 14.550

2. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 14.450

3. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 14.300

3. Veronica Hults, Allen, Texas, 14.300

5. Bailie Key, Coppell, Texas, 14.150

6. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 14.050

7. Lauren Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J., 14.000

8. Katelyn Ohashi, Plano, Texas, 13.950

Floor exercise

1. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 14.650

2. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 14.550

2. Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan., 14.550

4. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 14.250

5. Bailie Key, Coppell, Texas, 14.150

6. Lauren Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J., 13.900

7. Ariana Guerra, League City, Texas, 13.600

8. Megan Skaggs, Marietta, Ga., 13.400

8. Alexis Beucler, Findlay, Ohio, 13.400

8. Ashley Foss, Towaco, N.J., 13.400

The Senior Competition begins at 5 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on Universal Sports. Gymnastike will be providing LIVE UPDATES throughout the competition.