STANFORD, Calif. - Reigning U.S. all-around champion Brody Malone collected all-around and horizontal bar titles on July 31 in the Salt Lake Valley, as men's competition debuted at the U.S. Classic. The 2020 Olympian's cumulative 88.558 outpaced his Stanford teammate Colt Walker, who finished in the runner-up spot with an 85.264.
Stanford gymnasts accounted for three of the top-five all-around placements with Khoi Young slotting in fourth behind a combined 83.150. He was edged out of the third spot by veteran Donnell Whittenburg who delivered an 85.018 and claimed two event titles in his first domestic appearance of 2022.
Malone was one of three World medalists to pocket apparatus titles Sunday at Maverik Center. His 16.016 led all competitors on horizontal bar, where he earned world bronze last October. Stephen Nedoroscik, the reigning World champion on pommel horse, set the bar on his signature apparatus with a 14.743, and 2015 World vault bronze medalist Whittenburg delivered high scores on still rings (15.522) and vault (16.780), landing a backward full-twisting double tucked Tsukahara, also known as a Ri Se Gwang, on the latter.
En route to the all-around title, Malone would finish fourth on floor (14.466), third on pommels (13.889), second on rings (14.716) and third on parallel bars (15.221).
Walker's 15.860 topped the parallel bars standings, while Matt Cormier snared the day's high marks on floor exercise with a 15.222. Walker also placed second on vault (15.247) and fourth on rings (13.900).
Young's best individual event finish came on pommel horse, where he registered a 13.650 to take sixth. Stanford senior Riley Loos finished seventh overall in the all-around, highlighted by a pair of third-place finishes on rings (14.000) and vault (15.047).
Showcasing a stellar floor routine, sophomore Taylor Burkhart placed third overall in the event with a score of 14.529. Burkhart finished ninth in the all-around, followed by fellow Cardinal sophomore Ian Lasic-Ellis in 10th.
Competing only on parallel bars and pommel horse, Stanford graduate Blake Sun took second on parallel bars (15.639) and fifth on horse (13.700).
USA Gymnastics' men's program bonus system, which was first introduced at Winter Cup in February and awards senior athletes additional points for performing select high-difficulty elements, was once again in play.
