Oklahoma surges to 5th NCAA women's gymnastics title

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Oklahoma captured its fifth NCAA women's gymnastics title Saturday, rallying from last after first rotation to top spot at end behind a stellar performance from junior Ragan Smith.

Sooners posted a team score of 198.200, just ahe of Florida at 198.075. Utah finished third at 197.750 while Auburn and reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee finished off its best season in program history by finishing fourth.

A year after finishing a narrow second to Michigan, Sooners returned to top by surging after a so-so performance on floor exercise left m trailing. Oklahoma responded by posting best scores on each of final three events, including a steely set on balance beam as Florida closed gap on floor exercise a few feet away.

Florida senior and NCAA all-around champion Trinity Thomas posted meet's only perfect 10 with a brilliant performance on floor to bring Gators within a tenth of a point.

buzz from Thomas' score sent a jolt through crowd and with music blaring, Smith hopped onto beam and calmly delivered a stey and stoic set, seemingly immune to stakes. 2017 USA Gymnastics all-around champion raced toward her teammates after sticking her dismount. When her score of 9.9625 — which included 10s from two of six judges — Sooners erupted after realizing it was enough to bring home a championship y just missed last season.

Lee, first Olympic all-around gold medalist to compete collegiately, finished off her freshman season in style. Her all-around total of 36.250 was second-best of day behind Thomas, just as it was during Thursday's semifinals.

Lee's future is unknown. 19-year-old plans to return to elite competition, though when that may be is still unknown. With Paris 2024 Olympics just over two years away, it's likely to be sooner rar than later.

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