Can't-Miss Senior Routines At The 2017 U.S. Classic

Look back at some of the routines for the senior elites this spring that we're most looking forward to at the 2017 U.S. Classic.

Jul 24, 2017 by Lauren Green

Can't-Miss Senior Routines At The 2017 U.S. Classic

The U.S. Classic starts today in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, near Chicago. It will be the first time in 2017 that we are able to size up all of the contenders for the World Championships later this year in Montreal. With worlds being an individual competition and none of the "Final Five" returning in time for this summer's domestic competitions, it will be interesting to see how the picture unfolds.

Let's take a look back at some of the senior routines from international assignments that we're most looking forward to seeing this weekend.

Ragan Smith (Beam) -- American Cup

Video courtesy of USA Gymnastics

Smith was one of the alternates on last summer's Olympic team and balance beam was the event that put her in the selection committee's mind. She had an uncharacteristic fall on her full-twisting back pike and a major bobble on her wolf jump full in this routine at the American Cup on March 4. She made a few changes in her routine composition on beam -- including that wolf jump full -- and it will be interesting to see if there have been any additional changes since March. Solid competitions at both the U.S. Classic and then the P&G Gymnastics Championships next month could solidify her place on the U.S. team in Montreal in the fall.

Morgan Hurd (Floor) -- Stuttgart World Cup

Video courtesy of USA Gymnastics

Hurd made her senior international debut at this competition where she earned bronze in the all-around. She combines sky-high tumbling with beautiful artistry throughout her routine. Her opening double-double was huge, and her landings on her first three tumbling passes were quite controlled. She stumbled out of her final pass -- a beautiful, high double pike -- and wasn't quite as precise on a leap sequence near the start of the routine, but look for this one to be a special performance.

Riley McCusker (Bars) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

McCusker, who hails from the same gym that produced Olympian Laurie Hernandez, had a rough outing in her first international assignment at the American Cup. But she rebounded well at Jesolo by earning titles in all-around and balance beam and adding a silver medal on uneven bars. Bars was where the trouble began for McCusker at the American Cup, so placing second in Jesolo is a great sign for her moving forward. She had beautiful lines throughout the routine and a different dismount. She was the silver medalist at last year's junior national championships and it will be very interesting to see how she measures up in her first senior nationals.

Ashton Locklear (Bars) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

The City of Jesolo Trophy marked the first time that fans saw Olympic alternate Ashton Locklear in competition form. She was not 100 percent back from last summer, but she executed a clean routine in Jesolo. Locklear's execution is always stellar--from the beautiful lines and pointed toes to the lovely handstands throughout her routine--but it will definitely be interesting to see if she adds more difficulty ahead of the world championships. Her D-score at Jesolo was a 5.5--a full point lower than at the Olympic Trials last year, though half of that is the result of the new code of points.

Victoria Nguyen (Beam) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

Nguyen was a standout as a junior, especially on balance beam. But injuries threatened to derail her until she reemerged to make her senior international debut this spring. She was solid on beam in the team competition at Jesolo with a triple series and a second acro series--a side aerial to back tuck. Her event finals routine actually looked even better with the exception of a fall on her dismount. She has plenty of potential going forward, particularly if Valeri Liukin and company are planning on sending a specialist to worlds. Nguyen also competed at the London World Cup where she earned a silver medal later in the spring.

Alyona Shchennikova (Bars) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

Shchennikova is another new senior (and is the younger sister of Michigan gymnast Polina Shchennikova). She looked best on uneven bars in Italy this spring where she earned a 14.400. She had the fourth-best all-around total of the Americans and finished eighth overall. She has lovely lines on bars and has improved her form, especially her toe point. Her difficulty also didn't take too much of a hit -- she was at a 6.4 at the Secret Classic last year as a junior. Her routine at Jesolo was out of a 5.8, so aside from the five tenths that all routines lost she only lost one tenth.

Abby Paulson (Floor) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

Paulson wasn't new to senior competition -- her debut came in 2016 -- but this was her first international meet and she did well. She came away with a bronze medal in the all-around and gold on floor exercise. She has lovely twisting form on her skills, including a beautiful triple twist in her second pass. Her floor exercise, which melds athleticism with elements of dance, is one of the more difficult routines for American gymnasts.

Trinity Thomas (Floor) -- City of Jesolo Trophy

Thomas was another who made her senior debut at Jesolo. She is a powerful tumbler but hasn't quite learned to control her power and bounced out of bounds twice in her Jesolo performance. When she gains more control on her landings, she'll be a force to be reckoned with. The skills are already there; it's the polish and control that comes with the experience on the senior stage that will follow suit. She has drawn comparisons to Simone Biles' early years as an elite with her powerful tumbling.