Alabama Gymnastics Ties for Third at NCAA Championships
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of Alabama Gymnastics team tied the Stanford Cardinal for third place here at the NCAA Championships with a 197.125. The Crimson Tide was led by senior Jeana Rice’s 39.65 in the all-around.
UCLA won its fifth NCAA Championship with a Super Six record of 198.125, breaking the 198.025 mark set by Alabama in 1996. Georgia took second with a 197.200 followed by Stanford in third with a 197.125. Florida was fifth at 196.800 and Utah finished sixth with a 195.875.
It was Alabama’s third consecutive top-3 finish. In the last rotation, sophomore Ashley Miles scored a 9.950 on the floor exercise to lead Alabama to a 49.475. Rice scored a 9.925 and junior Alexis Brion posted a 9.9. Seniors Lauren Holdefer and Stephanie Kite both posted 9.85s.
Miles and Rice both scored 9.9s on the vault to take Alabama to a first rotation 49.375. Junior Alexis Brion went for a 9.875. Junior Shannon Hrozek made her way back into the vault lineup, leading off with a 9.85 after injuring her shoulder during Wednesday’s practice session by slamming into the vault. Sophomore Dana Filetti also went 9.85.
On the uneven bars, Rice scored a 9.9 in the anchor slot to lead the Tide to a 49.05 team total. Freshman Brittany Comeaux started the Tide off with a 9.825 while Hrozek and Miles both scored 9.8s. Filetti rounded out the uneven bars scoring with a 9.725.
Rice again brought the Tide with a 9.925 on the balance beam leading them to a 49.225 rotation. Sophomore Michelle Reeser, who had a break in the lead off spot yesterday after hitting her foot during her routine, came back strong today with a 9.85 from the lead off spot. Sophomores Rachael Delahoussaye and Mari Bayer also scored 9.85s.
Three Alabama gymnasts will compete in Saturday’s individual event finals which gets underway at 7 p.m. PDT. Rice will try and add to the all-around title she won Thursday night, competing on the balance beam and uneven bars. Miles will compete in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. Brion will also compete on the floor.
