Palmer grad excels

Coming to Colorado Springs for the U.S. National Qualifier at the Olympic Training Center for most is like any other gymnastics qualifier.

For Geoffrey Corrigan, from the University of Michigan, it was like coming home.

The 2001 Palmer High School graduate, who grew up in Colorado Springs, literally came home Saturday and conquered the field of 35 in the all-around category, guaranteeing himself a spot in the 2005 Visa Championships, Aug. 10-13 in Indianapolis.

Corrigan was in second place, behind Clay Strother from the University of Minnesota, after five of six rotations.

Going into his final event, the floor, "I knew I had to hit," Corrigan said.

And he did just that. Corrigan's score on the floor exercise was a 9.0, good enough for third. Strother competed on floor earlier and won with a 9.450 and finished the day second, 0.15 behind Corrigan in the all-around after an 8.25 on parallel bars.

"Coming into the event I knew I had to hit the top seven (to qualify)," Corrigan said. He hit top seven in four out of six events with his lowest place at 18th on pommel, his first event.

"Floor was pretty good today," he said. "It's usually my best event, but parallels were good too."

Corrigan, an All-American on parallel bars last year, tied for third on that event.

"I knew I would make nationals," Strother said. "It's just a qualifying meet for me. I want to peak at nationals."

Seventy-six gymnasts competed for approximately 28 spots in the Visa Championships, 14 from the junior levels: seven ages 14-15 and seven ages 16-17. The top seven seniors also qualify. Other qualifying chances are the topthree finishers in each event; or the top finishers in a combination of two, three, four or five events. The top seven all-around qualifiers at the Visa Championships will make the U.S. National Team and compete at Worlds.

The OTC is home to eight-year U.S. National and 2004 Olympic team member Brett Mc-Clure who has already qualified for the nationals. He participated in only three events due to a shoulder injury.

"The important thing about this competition for me is to not forget what it's like to be in competition," McClure said. "I'm focusing on getting healthy, training full time and getting back into shape for nationals."

David Durante, another OTC national team member who previously qualified for nationals, said: "It's more a chance to try new skills. It's a good opportunity to get in front of a judge."

For the others who are competing for a spot at nationals, "It's very important, it's huge," Durante said.

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