INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Sam Mikulak had little trouble picking up his third straight U.S. gymnastics title Sunday, overcoming an early misstep on high bar to dominate a crowded field that will give the Americans a deep roster heading into the world championships in October.
Mikulak posted a two-round score of 183.650, a whopping 4.35 points ahead of Donnell Whittenburg in the gymnastics equivalent of a blowout. A rejuvenated Chris Brooks took third, followed by Alex Naddour and Marvin Kimble in the final chance to impress the selection committee before world rosters are announced.
The 22-year-old Mikulak’s spot was never in doubt as he became the first American since Paul Hamm in 2002-04 to win three consecutive national titles. He will lead the U.S. to Scotland in October as the Americans try to back up the team bronze they won last year.
The six-man group that heads across the Atlantic will need a steadier performance than the one most of the field produced Sunday. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe it was just a bad day. Whatever it was, it wasn’t close to what will be required in October during an afternoon where there spills aplenty.
High bar, the gymnastics’ version of the slam dunk contest, claimed victim after bold-faced victim. Whittenburg, Mikulak, Danell Leyva, Jon Horton and Paul Ruggeri all lost their grip during their respective routines. Mikulak wound up flat on his face after his hands slipped on a downswing and he laid on the floor for a moment in stunned disbelief. A pep talk from coach Vitaly Marinitch gave Mikulak a chance to collect himself and it speaks to the difficulty of his set that he still managed a 14.9.