Liukin leads in gymnastics

Fri., Aug. 18, 2006

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Chellsie Memmel gave Nastia Liukin an opening.

Not surprisingly, Liukin took advantage to capture the lead after preliminaries at U.S. gymnastics championships Thursday night.

Liukin, trying to defend her Visa national championship, finished the night with 62.6 points in the sport’s new scoring system to take a whopping 1.1-point lead over Natasha Kelley and move 1.55 points ahead of Memmel, the reigning world champion. Jana Bieger was tied for third with Memmel.

Gymnastics fans were looking forward to a showdown between Memmel and Liukin, who finished second at last year’s worlds by .001 points, though both are using the competition more to prepare for the worlds.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Liukin leads in gymnastics

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Interceptions, sacks aplenty as WSU defense shines on Day 7 of spring ball

Pac-12 transfer tracker: Keeping up with portal moves, transactions for all nine teams

Updated: Former Zag star Jalen Suggs talks Few, Lloyd and a 2026 season that's put him to the test: 'I've learned a lot'