FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 24 Cardinal finished fourth at the 2023 Metroplex Challenge with a team score of 196.725, the program's best team score of the year.
No. 1 Oklahoma earned the event win with a score of 198.125, followed by No. 11 Alabama with a score of 198.000 and No. 16 Arkansas with a total of 197.125. Stanford's score matched its best since the Cardinal's 2020 competition at then No. 4 Utah.
Stanford's score also counted in a head-to-head matchup with Utah due to scheduling concerns, falling 197.600-196.725. The result will only count in the Cardinal's conference record.
Sophomore Brenna Neault earned her season-best all-around total, led by a career-best score on floor of 9.900. Junior Amanda Zeng tabbed a career-best total on floor of 9.850 and Widner and Roberts matched their career-best effort on bars with scores of 9.850 and 9.875, respectively.
The Cardinal started its night on beam, earning a team score of 49.175 led by senior Chloe Widner's 9.90 in the anchor spot. Neault and junior Isabela Onyshko earned the team's next top scores, recording marks of 9.875 and 9.825, respectively. Junior Ira Alexeeva captured a 9.800 and freshman Claire Dean opened the rotation with a 9.775.
Stanford then moved to floor, recording the team's second-best total of the year on the event of 49.325. Neault led the way with her career-best total, followed by freshman Anna Roberts with a 9.875. Rounding out the rotation's scoring routines were efforts from Dean, Brunette, Zeng, with each gymnast earning a score of 9.850. Sophomore Katya Sander debuted on the event, scoring a 9.650.
The Cardinal headed to vault next, collecting a team score of 48.975. Stanford was led by Roberts' score of 9.875, her fifth consecutive meet leading the team on the event, and scores of 9.800 from Brunette and Neault.
Stanford finished the night on bars, scoring a team score of 49.250. Brunette and Widner led the way with scores of 9.875, both matching season-best efforts. Neault and Roberts each totaled a score of 9.850, while Alexeeva recorded a 9.800.
The team has a quick turnaround, flying back from the Lone Star State Sunday to compete Monday in Maples for its annual Pink Meet against No. 26 Washington. The Monday matinee is set to begin at 4 p.m.