Zmeskal Beats Johnson in U.S. Gymnastics

Kim Zmeskal, a 14-year-old who was competing in her first senior nationals, vaulted past defending champion Brandy Johnson to win the women’s all-around title Saturday night at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Denver.

In the senior men’s event, steady John Roethlisberger held off UCLA’s Chris Waller to capture the all-around, 114.3-113.9.

Zmeskal scored a 9.8 in the floor exercise and a 9.975 in the vault--the highest mark of the night--to claim the title.

Johnson scored 9.85 in her first event, the vault, and went downhill from there.