Four National Titles for Mitchell

WAIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell has won four national titles after a dominant performance at Perth’s Challenge Stadium in the 2011 Australian Gymnastics Championships.

As a red hot favourite heading into nationals, Mitchell provided plenty of evidence to back up the hype with a superb performance to win the women’s All-Around competition on Friday, before returning on Sunday to claim individual apparatus titles in the Vault, Beam and Floor.

Mitchell won the All-Around crown with a score of 115.725 that was flourished by a new personal best on beam of 15.550. The World and Commonwealth champion finished ahead of the Victorian duo of Georgia-Rose Brown (107.950) and Mary-Anne Monckton (107.525).

The individual apparatus finals followed on Sunday, with Mitchell scoring 14.800 on Vault to claim her second title for the competition. Sophie Budack won silver, whilst bronze went to Britt Greeley.

Mitchell suffered a fall in her Un-Even Bars routine to finish fourth and outside of the medals, but bounced back to win the Beam and Floor finals and re-assert her dominance over Australian gymnastics.

Mitchell’s superior difficultly level on beam meant that despite a fall, she was able to collect a third title for the meet, with a score of 14.575 ahead of Australian teammate Ashleigh Brennan (14.525), while on floor, Mitchell showed her new routine had plenty of appeal, marking a golden performance with a fourth title and score of 14.000, to win ahead of Brennan (13.350) and Monckton (13.350) who shared silver.

WAIS athlete Janine Murray picked up a silver medal in the Rhythmic All-Around final on Saturday at Perth’s Loftus Centre. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist scored 93.625 to finish behind international teammate Danielle Prince (95.925) and Jaelle Cohen (84.625).