West Valley City • For the last four years, the Utah Red Rocks have run away with the Best of Utah gymnastics meet that features them, BYU, Utah State and Southern Utah.
On Monday, they did it again.
The Red Rocks won the Best of Utah meet easily, scoring a season-high 197.725 points — nearly two full points more than second-place BYU.
“Personally, I think it’s the best gymnastics team in the state,” junior Amelie Morgan said. “But I’m a little bit biased because I’m at Utah.”
Utah entered Monday’s contest as the No. 5 program in the country after an out-of-character performance Saturday in a meet that featured LSU, Oklahoma and UCLA. But the Red Rocks felt much better about themselves going into an extended break before their next meet on Jan. 26 against Arizona State.
Fifth-year senior had a comeback performance after falling on beam Saturday. Her beam routine Monday resulted in her second perfect 10 of the season in the event.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Marley Peterson performs her floor routine for Utah State during a meet between Utah, BYU, Utah State and Southern Utah at Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
Coach Carly Dockenforf said she almost rested O’Keefe.
“I think that just shows who Maile is,” Dockendorf said. “There was no way after Saturday that she was going to wait two weeks to redeem yourself.”
O’Keefe said she felt “a little bit weary” on Saturday. Her goal Monday, she said, was to be confident in my gymnastics.”
Morgan had a career meet on Monday. She had career highs in bars and beam with scores of 9.950 in both.
“She’s just such a confident competitor and consistent competitor,” Dockendorf said of Morgan. “She’s really secure in who she is and I think that shows in her performance.”
Although the top 10 scores of the evening all belonged to Utah, a couple of performances from the other schools stood out. Brynlee Andersen of BYU scored 9.900 on beam, while Isabella Neff of Southern Utah earned a 9.900 on bars.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Red Rocks gymnastics accepts their trophy after winning the Best of Utah meet between Utah, BYU, Utah State and Southern Utah at Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
Meet Results
1. Utah — 197.725
2. BYU — 195.775
3. SUU — 194.000
4. Utah State — 193.600
Top 10 Scores
• Maile O’Keefe, Utah, beam: 10.000
• O’Keefe, Utah, floor: 9.950
• Grace McCallum, Utah, floor: 9.950
• Amelie Morgan, Utah, bars: 9.950
• Abby Paulson, Utah, beam: 9.950
• McCallum, Utah, bars: 9.950
• Morgan, Utah, beam: 9.950
• O’Keefe, Utah, bars: 9.925
• Makenna Smith, Utah, floor: 9.925
• Paulson, Utah, floor: 9.925
