The pain in Bailey Young’s ankles is severe enough that she chose end a decade-long club gymnastics career, despite training to be a Level

As a junior at Robinson last year, she competed for the school’s gymnastics team, but only participated in two events.

Now a senior, Young decided to push through the pain and compete in the all-around. Despite tendonitis in both ankles from years of wear and tear, she participated in each of the four events during the Conference 5 championship meet, culminating with vault.

“Everyone else gets two chances to vault, but I know I (usually) only get one,” said Young, referring to limitations resulting from ankle pain. “It’s a lot of pressure [to] just [have] one vault that a lot of girls don’t have.”

Young landed her one vault attempt during the conference meet, held it long enough to appease the judges, and then had to be carried by a teammate back to Robinson’s seating area, where she iced her left ankle.

YOUNG’S EFFORT on vault showed toughness. It also showed talent.

Young recorded a score of 9.2, earning an individual conference title while helping Robinson repeat as Conference 5 team champion on Feb. 5 at Centreville High School.

It was Robinson’s third title in four years, including a Concorde District championship in 2012.

The Rams finished with a score of 136.55, well ahead of second-place Herndon (131.925). The two teams earned regional berths.

Oakton finished third with a score of 130.225, followed by Westfield (119.75), Chantilly (119.6) and Centreville (90.425).

“It feels really good,” Young said. “Obviously it hurts, but it’s good to know the pain was worth it for today.”

Young placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 33.975, earning a regional berth (top four all-arounds advance). Along with her win on vault, Young placed fourth on bars (8.35), tied for fourth on floor (9) and finished 12th on beam (7.425).

“She’s a tough one,” Robinson head coach Megan Smiley said. “I think it just shows how committed she is to Robinson and the program. She loves the girls, she loves the team. We’re going to miss her next year.”

Young wasn’t the only Robinson gymnast overcoming an injury. Caroline Burda hurt her left knee during the regular season and wore a brace during the Conference 5 meet. She wasn’t listed as a vault competitor in the meet program, but decided during the week to compete in the all-around.

BURDA, a sophomore, finished runner-up in the all-around for the second year in a row, this time recording a score of 34.05. She tied for second on bars (8.45), tied for third on beam (8.35), placed sixth on floor (8.95) and finished 22nd on vault (8.3).

“I thought that I did the best I could,” Burda said. “I wish beam had gone a little bit better. It was a pretty low score for me, but I hope to work hard this next week and prepare for regionals and hopefully do better.”

Robinson’s Emily Gross placed second on vault (9.125). Britnie Sullins tied for fourth on floor (9), placed fifth on vault (9.075) and took sixth on bars (8.225). Kayla Mathews tied for third on beam (8.35), and Jennifer Groth tied for sixth on vault (8.9) and finished seventh on beam (7.825).

Herndon’s Alexa Bradley won the all-around title (36.175), including first-place finishes on floor (9.575), bars (9) and beam (8.5). Oakton’s Natalie Weaver placed third in the all-around (34).

The 6A North region meet is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Lake Braddock.