Oregon State sophomore Jade Carey just missed becoming the school’s first gymnastics national champion in 30 years, as she tied for second on balance beam Thursday night at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Tex.
Carey, competing in the third rotation of the NCAA championship’s second session, scored 9.9625 to tie Utah’s Cristal Isa for second. Utah’s Maile O’Keefe won the beam title, hitting a perfect 10.
Carey, the 2021 Olympic champion on floor, took the lead late in the second session when she posted a 9.9625. Isa, competing in the final rotation, matched Carey. Had they finished tied for first, Carey and Isa would have been co-national champions.
O’Keefe, one of the last competitors on beam, passed Carey and Isa with a perfect score.
Carey was aiming to become Oregon State’s eighth all-time national champion. The last Beaver gymnast to win a national title was Amy Durham on floor in 1993.
Carey’s 9.9625 is the highest beam score by an Oregon State gymnast at the national championship meet.
This is Carey’s second trip to the NCAAs. Last year she placed fourth in all-around and second in uneven bars.
Carey did not qualify for all-around at the NCAA championships even though she was one of nation’s best throughout the season. Carey finished second to Michigan’s Abby Heiskell at the Denver regional. Only the top score for gymnasts whose team didn’t qualify for NCAAs advance to nationals.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel