Thursday night's preliminary round was not all McKayla Maroney could have hoped and dreamed for her senior U.S. Championships debut.
Although she performed a nice Amanar ("though it wasn't my best," she was quick to note), the 2010 junior bronze medalist had to count falls on floor (double Arabian) and beam (flight series) as well as an intermediate swing on uneven bars.
Here's what Maroney had to say post-meet:
McKayla Maroney on her night:
"I feel like I could have done a lot better. I'm happy for the experience but I definitely could have done a lot better."
On the best part of her day:
"There wasn't really a best part. I feel like I just messed up a little bit on everything. Maybe vault, but I still could have done a lot better."
On her nerves:
"I wasn't really nervous at all. I feel like I was holding back just a little too much on everything. Like I just need to use everything I have like I do in workout."
The Gymnastics Examiner will be in St. Paul, Minn. this week for the 2011 U.S. Championships. Please check here for quick hits, results, plenty of photos and impressions from podium training and media day. Follow it all on Facebook or Twitter, or click the "Subscribe" button above to receive the latest gymnastics news and results via e-mail.
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