Alex McMurtry wins 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup

Mar 1, 2013 by Anne Phillips

L to R: Aja Sims, Alex McMutry, Samantha Partyka. Photo by Marina Mazor

5-time J.O. National Champion Alex McMurtry of Midlothian, Va./Richmond Olympiad Gymnastics, won the all-around title at the 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Friday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

McMurtry was competing in her third-straight Nastia Liukin Cup and finished second last year to Charity Jones. She posted a 38.450 to capture the all around title. Aja-Monet Sims of Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson's, 38.175, and Samantha Partyka of Katy, Texas/Champions Gymnastics Academy, 38.075, finished second and third respectively.

McMurtry came from behind in dramatic fashion to take the all-around title. She hit her bar routine in the first rotation but was disappointed with just a 8.925. She pressed on and performed nearly flawless routines on the last three events.

McMurtry delivered a 9.75 on beam to win the event title with a near-stuck roundoff 2.5 twist. In the next rotation, she performed an epic floor routine with near-perfect tumbling to score a 9.80 and win the floor title. She mounted with a stuck half in half out and dismounted with a triple twist.

Alex McMurtry during her floor routine. Photo by Melissa Perenson

Going into the final rotation, McMurtry had climbed within two tenths of the lead and went big with one of the few double twisting yurchenkos of the night. It was almost perfect, scoring 9.975! She won the vault title ahead of 9.90's for Ashleigh Gnat and Kaytianna McMillan and moved into the lead.

Aja Sims, Photo by Melissa Perenson

Sims had a very even night and earned her highest score, 9.675, on the balance beam for a confident routine highlighted by a double back dismount.

Former elite Partyka was happy to be back on the podium and used a huge 9.825 yurchenko 1.5 vault in the last rotation to earn the bronze medal.

Ashton Locklear of Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, earned the highest score of the night on the uneven bars, a 9.475 and placed 7th all around.

The 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup competitors. Photo by Melissa Perenson

2013 Nastia Liukin Cup

DCU Center

Worcester, Mass.

March 1, 2013

Final results

All-around

1. Alex McMurtry, Midlothian, Va., 38.450

2. Aja-Monet Sims, Clermont, Fla., 38.175

3. Samantha Partyka, Katy, Texas, 38.075

4. Kari Lee, Peoria, Ariz., 38.050

5. Reagan Campbell, Coppell, Texas, 37.925

6. Mackenzie Brannan, Cedar Park, Texas, 37.900

7. Ashton Locklear, Huntersville, N.C., 37.875

8. Ashleigh Gnat, Longwood, Fla., 37.800

8. Charity Jones, Oklahoma City, Okla., 37.800

10. Bridget Dean, Fort Meyers, Fla., 37.475

11. Kaytianna McMillan, Eugene, Ore., 37.425

12. Kiera Brown, Newport News, Va., 37.400

13. Lindsey Lemke, Grand Rapids, Mich., 37.300

14. Alicia Boren, Boonton, N.J., 37.275

15. Kendal Moss, Cornelius, N.C., 37.150

16. Rachel Daum, Houston, Texas, 37.125

16. Lauren Ramirez, Chandler, Ariz., 37.125

18. Miranda Cabada, Chino, Calif., 36.825

19. Emily Schild, Huntersville, N.C., 36.800

19. Emily Gaskins, Fairfield, Ohio, 36.800

21. Drew Watson, Tyler, Texas, 36.750

22. Kyana George, Allen, Texas, 36.700

23. Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Groveland, Fla., 36.500

24. Alexis Mattern, Harrisburg, Pa., 36.400

25. Felicia Hano, Arcadia, Calif., 36.350

26. Bailey Ferrer, Orlando, Fla., 36.200

27. Mariah Peterson, Woods Cross, Utah, 36.150

28. Hannah Miller, Sandy, Utah, 36.050

29. Amanda Wellick, Wheaton, Ill., 35.875

30. Sydney Doggette, Westerville, Ohio, 35.725

31. Lexy Ramler, Winona, Minn., 35.275

32. Jenna Swartzentruber, Westerville, Ohio, 35.150

33. Brianna Brown, Fairfield, Ohio, 19.000

34. Alma Kuc, Los Angeles, Calif., 16.550

Vault
1. Alex McMurtry, Richmond Olympiad, 9.975
2T. Ashleigh Gnat, ACE, 9.90
2T. Kaytianna McMillan, NAAG, 9.90

Uneven Bars
1. Ashton Locklear, Everest, 9.475
2. Brianna Brown, Cincinnati, 9.450
3T. Kari Lee, Flames, 9.40
3T. Kaytianna McMillan, NAAGS, 9.40
3T. Kiera Brown, World Class, 9.40

Balance Beam
1. Alex McMurtry, Richmond Olympiad, 9.75
2. Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Brandy Johnson's, 9.70
3. Aja Sims, Brandy Johnson's, 9.675

Floor
1. Alex McMurtry, Richmond Olympiad, 9.80
2. Kaytianna McMillan, NAAGS, 9.675
3T. Reagan Campbell, Texas Dreams, 9.625
3T. Samantha Partyka, Champion, 9.625

Click here to watch the video interview with Nastia Cup Champion Alex McMurtry