Most important 15 minutes of the night

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NEW WAVERLY, Texas -- Uneven bars is the event where the U.S. stands to lose big points to the Chinese. Three potential Chinese team members have posted bars scores well over 17 while only Nastia Liukin has done the same for the U.S.

So it is no surprise that nine of the 11 healthy girls here at the final selection camp are doing uneven bars tonight, even guaranteed team members Liukin and Shawn Johnson.

First up, Ivana Hong had a near stop and scored 14.850. That may have been her last chance to earn one of the six team spots. Memmel followed with a cautiously solid 15.900 routine with only a step on the landing as an obvious error. If Memmel was feeling insecure about her spot after hurting her neck Friday, she and her father and coach Andy were looking relieved after that performance.

Sloan, who had knee surgery last March and needs to show continuing improvement, didn’t. Her routine wasn’t confident and her 14.900 score showed that. Liukin almost fell on her landing and had a 16.650. She hasn’t scored a 17 or higher since nationals in early June.

Jana Bieger, who also is in a fight for the final spot, fell on the same release move for the second time in two days, It took her several seconds to remount the bars and when she finished Bieger went into a corner with her back turned to the gym. Her mother and coach Andrea, a former West German national team gymnast, spoke to her daughter then walked away. Bieger remained sitting in the corner as Samantha Peszek competed.

Bieger received her score of 15.000 (it would have been 15.800 without the fall), then put on her warmups and left the corner after Peszek finished a solid routine.

Other unevens scores: Mattie Larson, 14.750; Peszek, 15.400; Chelsea Davis, 15.100; Shawn Johnson -- in her first appearance of the night, a 15.750.

-- Diane Pucin