HBCU Gymnasts Price And Johnson 1st In Events, Qualify For The USAG Women's Collegiate National Championship Final

HOUSTON - The 2024 USAG Women's Collegiate National Championships ended Day 1, with two HBCU gymnasts earning the top all-around individual performances. Fisk University's Morgan Price finished first with a score of 39.225. Kyrstin Johnson of Talladega was second, scoring 39.050.
Price claimed first place on the balance beam, scoring 9.725. Yet, Johnson wasn't to be outdone in what has become one of her specialties, the vault. After the fourth rotation, Kyrstin Johnson recorded a 9.925 in the event.
TICKET PUNCHED FOR FINALS ππ₯
β Fisk University Gymnastics (@FiskUGymnastics) April 12, 2024
Congratulations to Morgan Price on qualifying for the Individual Finals on Vault, Bars, & Floor. Sheβll be competing for a chance to bring home an individual event title π β
π: Sunday, April 14
β°: 12PM CST | 1PM EST
π: Hollinger Fieldhouse pic.twitter.com/NxvO7m8byf
"YES!!!!! I thought they were going to give me a perfect 10. One judge had a 10, and I started jumping up and down with my coaches. Unfortunately, the other judge felt different, but I ended with a 9.925!!!," Johnson posted on social media.
Johnson learned the Yurchenko 1 and 1/2 vault this season and has made the event her specialty. "Some people can actually take them a minute because you're literally running towards an object," Johnson told HBCU Legends about learning the vault in February. She continued, "Which can actually be hard for people. Honestly, I just happened to be really good at that event, and it's actually my favorite event."
YES!!!!! I thought they were going to give me a perfect 10. One judge had a 10 and I started jumping up and down with my coaches. Unfortunately the other judge felt different but I ended with a 9.925!!! pic.twitter.com/2qbfC7nAth
β Kyrstin Johnson (@KjFlips05) April 12, 2024
"The Yurchenko vault is named after Natalia Yurchenko, a former Soviet Union world champion who introduced the vault in 1982. The Yurchenko double pike is considered the most difficult vault in women's gymnastics, and where Simone Biles was the first woman to use the maneuver in a 2021 competition. The vault will officially be named after Biles once she lands it at the world championships."
The team's overall scores were as follows:
- Texas Women's University: 195.175
- Air Force: 193.675
- Cornell: 193.025
The top five competitors in each team event will qualify for Sunday's individual competition. Three athletes per team are allowed in each event.
On Sunday, Morgan Price and Kyrstin Johnson will battle against one another in the vault and floor exercise routines.
Vault Results
- Kyrstin Johnson - Talladega
- Kaitlyn Hoiland - TWU
- Sophia Isbell - TWU
- Morgan Price - Fisk and Sydney Beers - Cornell
*Aliyah Reed-Hammon (Fisk) was 6th
Uneven Bars Results
- Morgan Price (Fisk) is tied with two gymnasts in 1st place at 9.85.
Balance Beam Results
- Kyrstin Johnson is in 2nd place, tied with five other competitors at 9.825.
- Liberty Mora ranks 7th at 9.800.
Floor Exercise Results
- Kyrstin Johnson is ranked 2nd and tied with Maggie Slife of the Air Force with a score of 9.875.
- Morgan Price is in 4th place at 9.85, tied with five competitors.
The event is at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania, from Friday, Apr. 12 through Sunday, Apr. 14. Sessions for teams, individuals, and the individual all-around will crown new champions.