Three Sooners Finish in Top Five at Trials

June 30, 2012

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Three of the five Sooners competing at the 2012 U.S. Men's Gymnastics Olympic Trials were in the top five of the all-around standings when the two-day competition ended on Saturday in San Jose, Calif. 2008 Olympian Jonathan Horton was third in the all-around at 361.500 followed by junior Jake Dalton and letterwinner Chris Brooks tied for fourth place at 358.350.

Danell Leyva (368.350) and John Orozco (367.400) topped all competitors and earned automatic spots on the squad that will represent the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games in London next month.

Complete Results | Photos

The remaining three spots will be determined by the selection committee and announced on Sunday. In addition to this week's trials, the committee will also figure in the Visa Championships held earlier this month. There will also be two alternates named to the team before it departs for London.

"Overall, I was really proud of each of the guys' performances," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams, who was coaching this week in San Jose and saw five Sooner letterwinners under him competing this week. "I think all five will be in the conversation over the next 18 hours."

The University of Oklahoma represented five of the 15 competitors this week in San Jose. Dalton, who has one year of eligibility remaining at OU, is looking to become the program's second gymnast to compete in the Olympics while still attending school (Bart Conner). Steven Legendre (2008-2011) just completed his fifth year at OU and still trains in Norman while serving as a student coach this past season.

Similar to the Visa Championships when Dalton won national titles on floor and vault, the OU junior sat atop those same standings after competition concluded on Saturday. Dalton's 63.600 total led all gymnasts on the floor and his 64.850 was the top score on vault. He also posted a top-five finish on parallel bars (60.700).

"I feel like Jake did what he needed to do to be an Olympian," said Williams. "He was 4-for-4 on floor and vault throughout the whole process and only missed one of his 24 routines between the Visa's and this week's competition. I think, numbers-wise, any scenario the committee puts together benefits with Jake on the team."

Horton (2005-08) was one of the two gymnasts to clinch a berth at the same competition four years ago when he helped the U.S. win a bronze medal in the Beijing Games. On top of his third place all-around finish, he led the standings on still rings with a tally of 61.800 and also had top five finishes on the parallel bars (second) and high bar (fifth).

"Jon had a solid meet, I think the team definitely needs him on rings," added Williams. "He struggled a bit on floor, but he is a leader of the team with his experience from the past four years and that should benefit him in the end."

Williams also saw letterwinners Legendre and Alex Naddour (2010-2011) compete on Saturday afternoon. Legendre posted the day's top floor score at 16.200 and he finished second overall in the competition on the event. He was also third on the vault.

"I was really proud of Steve, he fought throughout and did not have a missed routine," said Williams. "He is one of the best in the world on both floor and vault and we hope the selection committee looks at Steve as a candidate or alternate."

Dalton and Brooks shared the event's top vault score at 16.350 while Naddour was fourth on the pommel horse, his specialty, at 14.800. Brooks (2006-2009) perhaps had the most consistent performance among all the Sooners with four top-five finishes (floor, rings, vault and parallel bars).

All five Sooners are current members of the U.S. National Team and advanced to the U.S. Olympic Trials after their performances at the 2012 Visa Championships earlier this month. The U.S. representatives in London will be determined by the Trials, subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee's board of directors.

Oklahoma has produced three Olympians in men's gymnastics and has been represented in the past two Summer Olympic Games by Guard Young in 2004 and Horton in 2008, both under current head coach Mark Williams.

OU's Olympic History:
The University of Oklahoma has produced three past Olympic gymnasts, dating back to three-time Olympian Bart Conner. The 1981 graduate represented the United States in both 1976 and 1980 before winning it all on American soil at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Calif. In addition to helping Team USA take home Gold, Conner proved to be the world's top gymnast on parallel bars, winning individual Gold.

In 2008, Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton helped the United States win Bronze at the Summer Games in Beijing, China. Horton also found individual success, taking Silver in the high bar portion of the event.

Upon graduating from BYU in 2001, current OU assistant Guard Young returned to his home state of Oklahoma to train with Williams for the Olympic Games while serving as an assistant coach for the Sooners. Young represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where the Americans claimed Silver.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Three Sooners Finish in Top Five at Trials

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