#5 Red Rocks Take Fifth Consecutive Rio Tinto Best of Utah Title

Monday, January 15

West Valley City, UT

4:00 PM

University of Utah

197.725

195.775

Brigham Young

#5 Red Rocks Take Fifth Consecutive Rio Tinto Best of Utah Title

1/15/2024 8:49 PM | Gymnastics

Final Results

Maile O’Keefe adds to her career perfect 10.0 tally on beam

WEST VALLEY CITY – The fifth-ranked Utah Gymnastics team returned to the Maverik Center on Monday evening for the Rio Tinto Best of Utah, competing against #25 Southern Utah, BYU, and Utah State. For the fifth year in a row, the Red Rocks took the top spot against the competition from around the state with a score of 197.725. BYU finished in second with a 195.775. Southern Utah tallied a final score of 194.000. Utah State rounded out the pack with a total score of 193.600. Utah tallied the high score in each event breaking 49.0 or better, with the highest team score coming on floor after posting a 49.600.

The Red Rocks opened the afternoon on vault with Camie Winger securing a 9.80 in the leadoff spot for Utah. Ella Zirbes followed with a score of 9.850 with the second vault for the Red Rocks. Utah's all-arounder Makenna Smith picked up the Red Rock lineup, securing a 9.875 score in the middle of the rotation after Ashley Glynn stepped through her landing. Jaedyn Rucker added a 9.825 for Utah's fifth vault score of the rotation. Jaylene Gilstrap rounded out the Utah vault rotation by earning a score of 9.725.

With Utah starting on vault, BYU opened the day on bars, Southern Utah began on floor and Utah State on beam. After the first rotation, the Red Rocks held a .125 advantage over BYU 49.075-48.950. Utah State held a firm grasp on third place after the first rotation, with a score of 48.425. Southern Utah rounded out the quad with a score of 48.225.

Smith would take the leadoff spot for the Red Rocks on bars, capturing a 9.850 to get the rotation started. Alani Sabado added a 9.775 in the second spot of the rotation for the Red Rocks. Zirbes hit a big bounce-back routine on bars after taking a fall in her last competition, scoring a 9.825. Amelie Morgan hit a career-high on bars, scoring a 9.950, with the first 9.9 score of the day for the Utes. Grace McCallum followed Morgan's lead adding the second 9.950 score of the rotation. Maile O'Keefe kept the streak of nines alive, rounding out the rotation with a 9.925.

After the second rotation, Utah increased its lead over BYU to maintain the top spot, 98.575-97.925. Southern Utah jumped into the third position after their rotation on vault, with a total score of 97.000. Utah State tallied 95.925 points total after two rotations to sit in fourth place.

Morgan took her momentum from bars to beam, picking up her second 9.950 of the day and matching her career best. Elizabeth Gantner made her way into the Red Rocks rotation for her first collegiate appearance, earning a 9.750. Smith brought about the middle of the lineup with a 9.875. McCallum brought up the back half of the Utah beam lineup with a score of 9.775. Abby Paulson posted the second 9.9 of the rotation, eclipsing her season-best 9.925 from the Sprouts Collegiate Quad with a 9.950. O'Keefe followed up with her second 10.0 of the season on beam. This is her 12th perfect score on the apparatus and her 13^th career 10.0.

?? for the BEAM QUEEN!!! ??

The 12th of @maile_okeefe's career on beam ??

??: https://t.co/XhRefB52fY #WeOverMe | #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/rpCZUkH1F1
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 16, 2024

Through three rotations, Utah improved their advantage over BYU, 148.125-147.000. Southern Utah remained in the third spot after their turn on bars, with a total score of 146.350. Utah State secured the fourth spot with a total score of 144.525, after their turn on vault.

Smith got the Red Rocks floor rotation started with a 9.925. It was her second consecutive competition with a 9.0 or better on floor. Winger put her floor routine on display in competition for the first time this season, capturing a score of 9.80 in the second spot for Utah. Paulson carried her momentum from the beam to floor, garnering her second 9.925 of the day and matching her career best. McCallum followed with a 9.950 for the second 9.9 of the rotation. With the final routine of the evening, O'Keefe added the third consecutive 9.9 or better and the fourth of the floor rotation for the Red Rocks, earning a 9.950.

Just a beautiful routine from Abby earning her a 9.950 ??

??: https://t.co/XhRefB52fY #WeOverMe | #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/dhOJOl5MP9
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 16, 2024

Utah returns to the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Friday, Jan. 26, to host Arizona State for its annual Philanthropy Night at 6 p.m. MT. The Utes and Sun Devils will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks to open conference action.