Riley Jenkins stood at the start of the vault runway.
The sophomore took a deep breath and broke into a sprint.
In just five seconds, she hit the table, launched into the air and snapped into position for the landing.
Stuck.
When the 9.950 flashed across the scoreboard, it meant more than just a career high.
It also crowned Jenkins the Big Ten vault champion.
“I’m in shock,” Jenkins said after the March 21 conference championships. “I can’t even believe it. There’s so many emotions running through me.”
[Related: Jordan Chiles wins all-around, floor champion in UCLA Big Ten victory]
While Jenkins may not make headlines every week, the vault specialist’s presence is felt well beyond the competition floor.
That was evident at the Big Ten Championships, where the sophomore danced, cheered on her teammates and hugged them after each routine. After her own championship-clinching vault, Jenkins showed off her bubbly personality, running to coach Janelle McDonald while holding up a No. 1 with each hand and sticking out her tongue.
“Riley is an incredibly important part of this team,” said freshman Tiana Sumanasekera. “She brings such great energy, and she’s somebody that we can always lean on. … She’s just such a bright person and has so much love for everyone around her. She plays such a crucial part in lineups. But as a person, she brings so much to the team that makes us who we are.”
Jenkins’ journey at UCLA has not been a straight shot – in fact, this season marked her first appearance at the conference championship.
The Burbank, California, local made her collegiate debut Feb. 1, 2025, competing a Yurchenko 1.5 vault and notching a 9.850, a mark she did not meet again for a year.
Jenkins dealt with ankle flare-ups that brought her in and out of the lineup during her freshman season, McDonald said. She returned to the vault lineup for postseason competition and finished with an average of 9.7786.
But regardless of her scores, Jenkins remained a positive force.
“She is somebody that really shows up for her teammates and is in their corner, supporting them and hyping them up in any moment,” McDonald said. “You see her on the sidelines of a competition, just losing her mind over things going well.”
And Jenkins has found her footing this season.
The sophomore has appeared in the vault lineup at every meet in the 2026 campaign, owning a 9.870 NQS and bringing a 10.0 start value with her Yurchenko 1.5. And Jenkins has been on a hot streak, sticking her last three vaults to earn a pair of 9.900s alongside the career-high 9.950.
McDonald said the scores reflect behind-the-scenes grit.
Following a travel day, when the coaching staff encouraged athletes to rest and recover, Jenkins had other plans.
“After a travel day, we let them … stretch, roll out, move a little bit,” McDonald said. “And Riley’s like, ‘I want to get better at my vault today.’ That’s just the mentality she takes. A day that was super light for everybody, she’s like, ‘I want to work.’ And hard work pays off.”
Alongside the extra reps in the gym, Jenkins said her recent performances are supported by a shifting mindset.
“I just realized that I’m doing gymnastics because I love it, and just to have fun,” Jenkins said. “I was putting so much pressure on myself and this vault that I was just doing worse. I realized in these last few weeks, just have fun and remember why I love the sport.”
Jenkins is the Bruins’ only one-event specialist, having competed exclusively on vault without exhibiting other events.
But the sophomore has other talents up her sleeve. Jenkins won the 2024 level 10 state all-around, vault and floor, nabbing second in the all-around at the level 10 all-stars competition.
McDonald said the sophomore trains all four events in practice, adding that Jenkins came into the preseason with the goal of improving her vault but is working to add other events to her competitive arsenal.
And it shows.
“She’s a consistent positive energy in the gym and an amazing teammate. And when you pair it with her work ethic, she’s becoming a great leader for us,” McDonald said. “It’s pretty cool to see some of our younger athletes trying to step into those roles where they really find their voice. … I think Riley has really found that this year.”
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