© Christopher Shannon @CTSphoto6687

INDIANAPOLIS, April 12, 2019 – Darian Burns of Seattle Pacific University won the all-around title at the 2019 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships at the University of Bridgeport’s (Conn.) Wheeler Recreation Center. Competition continues on Saturday with the team finals at 7 p.m. ET, which fans can watch on the livestream, that will feature Lindenwood University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Bridgeport and University of Illinois – Chicago.

Burns, who competed in the second session, posted the top all-around score of 39.225 to clinch the title. The Air Force’s Tyler Davis and UIC’s Kayla Baddeley both earned a 39.175, just 0.050 behind Burns, and tied for the silver medal. Burns individual event scores were: vault, 9.825; uneven bars, 9.825; balance beam, 9.725; and floor exercise, 9.850.

In the first session, Air Force posted a 194.825 for the top qualification spot, just 0.025 ahead of Lindenwood University’s 194.800. Yale University and West Chester University were third (193.725) and fourth (191.675), respectively.

In the second session, Bridgeport notched a 195.750 for the highest team score. UIC was just 0.075 behind at 195.675. Cornell University was third at 193.400, followed by Texas Woman’s University at 193.225.

The 13 schools and universities represented in the championships are: the U.S. Air Force Academy; Brown University; Centenary College; Cornell University; Lindenwood University; Seattle Pacific University; Southeast Missouri State University; Southern Connecticut State University; Texas Woman’s University; University of Bridgeport; University of Illinois – Chicago; Wester Chester University; and Yale University.

The competition schedule is: April 13, team finals, 7 p.m. ET; and April 14, individual event finals, 1 p.m. ET. Tickets are available online and prices for each of the four sessions are: April 14, general public, $15, and senior citizen and youth (5-18), $10. For more information, go to Bridgeport.universitytickets.com/w.

Bridgeport is arranging for live scoring and video links for the championships.

The top eight teams, based on the NCAA national qualifying score, qualified to the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships, with the highest-scoring Division II or Division III institution nationally, according to the NCAA NQS, receiving an automatic berth. The top 16 individual qualifiers on each event who are not on a qualifying team also earned berths to the championships. The top two teams from each of the two qualification sessions advanced to the team finals. For the individual event finals, the top five gymnasts plus ties from each session, with a maximum of three per school, qualify to the event finals.

The USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships is for Division I, II and III schools with less than seven-and-a-half full scholarships.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.