This post was updated Jan. 30 at 7:52 p.m.
There are two things a gymnast needs to do to earn a high score on vault.
One: Fly high.
Two: Stick the landing.
Senior Chae Campbell of No. 11 UCLA gymnastics did both Saturday night when she scored a perfect 9.950 on her Yurchenko full vault. The skill consists of a roundoff back handspring entry onto the vaulting table, followed by a back layout with a full twist.
Although the vault has a maximum start value of 9.950, Campbell is still ranked No. 5 in the nation on the apparatus. Every other gymnast ranked in the event’s top ten competes at a 10.0 starting vault value, leaving Campbell at a half-tenth disadvantage before she even begins her run.
Campbell’s vault stands out for its explosive block off the table and for what lately has become a signature stuck landing. She has notched a total of seven perfect scores in her career on vault, two of which have come this season, and currently averages a 9.919 in 2024.
Campbell is one of six gymnasts who vault for the Bruins every week, contributing to what was their highest-ranked event heading into Saturday night’s competition. Last season, the Bruins struggled on vault, having their lowest national ranking of any event and finishing at No. 11.
At the 2023 NCAA semifinals, the Bruins tied their third-lowest score with a 49.175 on vault to put them in third place and out of the next round of competition.
Upon reflection, coach Janelle McDonald said she is proud of the improvement she’s seen since last season.
“After last season, as a team we talked about how vault was one of the events that held us back a little bit,” McDonald said. “It was an event that our team really wanted to improve on.”
The Bruins now slot in as No. 6 in the country on vault – five positions higher than the 2023 squad.
Heading into last Saturday’s competition, Campbell said there was extra emphasis on vault in practice.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the one-and-a-halfers on our team do so many (vaults), working that landing, working that stick,” Campbell said. “They were doing everything in their power to make sure that they were dialed in for this meet.”
In their first rotation, the Bruins matched their season-high on the event with a 49.400. Freshman Katelyn Rosen and sophomore Selena Harris each notched a 9.900, with junior Emily Lee also sticking her Yurchenko full for a 9.875.
Despite a fall from freshman Paige Anastasi on her Yurchenko 1.5, the Bruins counted five other landed vaults that led to the season-high score. McDonald said the experience that Anastasi gained on her fall was more valuable than a stuck vault.
“She did really well in the warmups, even in the one touch, and that one fluke routine did not go her way,” McDonald said. “The experience she gained from doing all of that today is going to help us in the long run.”
The Bruins will have the chance to use that experience as they face their second head-to-head Pac-12 opponent of the season this upcoming Sunday.
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