San Jose State University women’s gymnast Katie Valleau will compete in the 2011 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships, which will be held April 15-17, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Valleau scored a career-best 9.900 to tie three other gymnasts for first place at the NCAA Corvallis Regional held April 2.

In advancing to the championships, the gymnast, born Katherine Naomi Valleau, will represent the Covallis region, San Jose State and San Diego, her hometown.

After walking on to the team her freshman year, Valleau has competed on the floor each of her three years at San Jose State.

Valleau is a San Jose State Scholar Athlete and an Academic All-WAC honoree. She is majoring in hospitality and event planning.

“I am really excited and overwhelmed right now at going to nationals,” Valleau said in a statement. “I cannot believe it. Now, I just want to go there, do my best and finish my season strong.”

At the NCAA Championships, Valleau will compete in the second session on Friday, April 15, at 6 p.m. EDT. She rotates with the Florida Gators that day and competes in the third rotation of the session. Valleau will practice on Thursday from 1:50-2:50 p.m. at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. All practice sessions are free and open to the public.

After the April 15 sessions, the top four individuals in each event (plus ties) from the two preliminary and all-around competition sessions will compete in the individual-event competition on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m.

Valleau graduated from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts in 2008.