HARTFORD, Conn. — Sam Mikulak, a 23-year-old Olympic veteran, used a steady performance Sunday at the U.S. Championships to become the first man to take the national title in four consecutive years since Blaine Wilson won five straight in the 1990s.
He scored 181.500 points, finishing 1.65 points in front of 2012 Olympic alternate Chris Brooks. Jake Dalton, an Olympic teammate of Mikulak four years ago, finished third.
Former Illini Paul Ruggeri finished in a tie for eighth with a score of 177.200, while ex-Illini CJ Maestas took 11th at 176.100. Current Illinois student-athlete Alex Diab placed 33rd of 40 competitors with a total of 163.