BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior Navia Jordan was bound and determined to make sure Friday afternoon, April 12, would not be her final collegiate competition.
Mission Accomplished.
Jordan finished in a tie for first on beam and tied for second on floor to qualify for Sunday's event finals on both events and earn First Team All-American status on both events after the first session of the team semifinals/event semifinals of the USA Gymnastics Championships.
Freshman Kendall Sanders finished in a tie for sixth on floor with a big career high of 9.800. Named an alternate to event finals on floor, Sanders garners Second Team All-American status.
Jordan competed in the final two rotations on beam and floor with fellow Midwest Independent Conference-foe Lindenwood. Jordan received a 9.850 on beam to tie Daija Stevenson of Air Force. While Stevenson received a 9.850 from both judges, Jordan recorded a 9.900-9.800 spread – the only gymnast to receive a 9.900 on beam from a judge in the first session.
The 9.850 on beam ties a career high for Jordan.
The last competitor of the afternoon on floor, she wowed the judges to finish tied for second with a 9.875, which matches a season-best score. Collegegymnews.com had this to say about the routine:
"Jordan (CC – individual): Nice double pike to open, stunning tour jete half. Holy second pass. So many saltos strung together to a huuuge split jump rebound. Ends with a gigantic rudi straddle. She has such a presence on floor 0 9.825."
Jordan, who finishes her Centenary Gymnastic career Sunday, has received four USAG All-American nods in her career. Besides this year on both beam and floor, she earned USAG All-American accolades on floor in 2016 and 2018, finishing runner-up on floor last year.
Sanders finished in a tie for sixth on floor after an easy career best 9.800 – a full tenth higher than her previous career high. She finished the all-around sixth in the session with a 37.950.
Freshman Xian Baumgartner and junior Cami Bea Austin also competed on the afternoon for Centenary. Baumgartner received a 9.575 on bars while Austin earned a 9.200 on vault, 9.550 on beam and 8.000 on floor.
In the team competition, Air Force (194.825) and Lindenwood (194.800) advance to the team finals Saturday night.
Jordan, and possibly Sanders, will compete in the event finals at the USAG Championships Sunday afternoon, April 14, at noon (1 p.m. EST).