by INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — National champion Ragan Smith and Olympic alternate Ashton Locklear (Lumbee Tribe) will lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to the world championships in Montreal next month.
Jade Carey and Morgan Hurd also will compete for the four-woman U.S. team when the event begins on Oct. 4. Jordan Chiles, who finished runner-up to Smith at the national championships in August, will serve as the alternate.
Smith and Locklear were both alternates for the 2016 Olympic team. Smith cruised to the all-around title at the national championships, beating the rest of the field by more than three points.
The U.S. women have dominated international competition over the past several years, having won every Olympic all-around title since 2004 and all but one world all-around title since 2007. Team USA women also won a record nine medals last year at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
