The Optionals session of the summer's 2nd national elite qualifier concluded today at Biegers Gymnastics in Florida. UCLA gymnast Vanessa Zamarripa lived up to the hype and has qualified for the 2010 US Championships! UCLA Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field swears that Vanessa is the most talented gymnast ever to come through her program so I'm excited to see what she can do as an elite. 

I'm also convinced that 2010 is the year of Brandie Jay. I first met Brandie a year ago and to see the progress she's made in that time is astounding. She's always been a good gymnast, but this season she was the Region 3 All Around Champion, and J.O. All Around and Vault National Champion. She's had a few unsuccessful tries at qualifying elite in the past but kept at it. Today her dedication and persistence paid off as not only did she qualify senior international elite but she qualified to US Championships with a 54.70. Brandie just might be the Kayla Williams of 2010; like Kayle she won JO Nationals, qualified elite for the first time at age 16, and vault is Brandie's specialty. Her junior teammate Claire Hammen also qualified for US Championships in the junior division. 

Here's a video of Brandie from a Region 3 camp at the end of last summer:

The highest all around score of the day was posted by junior elite Breanna Dowell of GAGE with a 55.25. Her highest score of the day came on bars, 14.550 (5.40/9.15). You may remember Breanna from US Championships last year. Breanna's GAGE teammate Maddi Desch also qualified easily for her first Championships with a 54.70 after a very successful season of level 10. The only other gymnast to break 55 in today's all around was Annete Miele of Parkettes in the senior division.

Former University of Arkansas gymnast and 2010 NCAA All Around Runner Up Casey Jo Magee also competed this weekend, but again chose not to compete bars. It's more difficult to qualify as a specialist. She totaled a 40.80 today and will need to total a 42.00 and pass the compulsory testing to compete at Classics. She's trying elite for the fist time at age 21, but she looked better than ever this season at Arkansas. 

Here's a look at the latest qualifiers from today's competition:

SENIORS who qualified to the 2010 US Championships: 

Annete Miele, Parkettes, 55.10

Brandie Jay, GK's, 54.75

Vanessa Zamarripa, UCLA, 54.55

Lauren Beers, Southern Tier, 54.50

Rheagan Courville, Gymnasiana, 54.00

JUNIORS who qualified to the 2010 US Championships: 

Breanna Dowell, GAGE Gymnastics, 55.25

Maddi Desch, GAGE Gymnastics 54.70

Elizabeth Price, Parkettes, 54.55

Sarah Finnegan, GAGE, 54.15

Claire Hammen, GK's, 53.30

Sam Partyka, Champion Gymnastics, 53.15

Mackenzie Brannan, Capital TX, 53.00

Rachel Daum, Stars Houston, 52.90

Keeley McNeer, Chow's Gymnastics, 52.50

Emma Sibson, Zenith Elite, 52.30

Talia Chiarelli, Brestyan's, 52.30

Alyssa Shermetaro, Olympia, 52.20

Megan Jimenez, Precision, 52.00

Stefani Catour, Desert Lights, 52.00

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JUNIORS who qualified to US Classic:

Jenna Bresette, GAGE Gymnastics, 51.85

Bailie Key, WGA, 51.55

Macy Toronjo, WGA, 51.40

Grace Williams, Gedderts Twistars, 51.50

HOPES gymnasts who qualified to US Classic: 

Julianna Drapkin, Rebound Gymnastics, 50.050

Asia De Walt, WGA, 49.70 (she's only 9 years old!) 

Annabelle Hovater, WorldClass Gymnastics, 49.40

Ashley Szafranski, Parkettes, 49.40

Rachel Flam, Stars Houston, 47.15

Haven Lanzador, Buckeye Gymnastics, 47.00

(click above gymnasts names to view their videos on gymnastike.) 

The compulsory sessions will take place tomorrow. Check back for those scores. The next and final national elite qualifer before the US Classic will be held at the Ranch July 2 - 4. 

Click here to view the 2010 elite qualifying scores and procedures

Click here to view Full Results of the 2010 Bieger National Elite Qualifier