Arkansas places 5th in session

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/223836/

ATHENS, Ga. — Sophomores Michelle Stout and Casey Jo Magee became the first Lady Razorbacks gymnasts to earn All-America honors Thursday, leading 11 th-ranked Arkansas to a fifth-place finish in Session 1 of the NCAA Championships.

Arkansas failed to advance to tonight’s Super Six championship round — only the top three teams from Thursday’s two sessions move on — but its fifth-place showing was one spot better than the team’s sixth-place session finish in 2006.

No. 3 Florida (196. 90 ), No. 4 Alabama (196. 650 ) and No. 7 LSU (196. 575 ) advanced to the Super Six from Session 1. No. 10 Oklahoma was fourth at 196. 075, and Arkansas finished at 195. 825.

Georgia, Utah and Stanford advanced out of Thursday’s second session to the Super Six.

Stout earned first-team All-America honors by tying for the victory on the vault with a 9. 90 in the first session and advancing to Saturday’s individual event finals. Magee finished tied for fifth on the bars (9. 90 ) and the vault (9. 85 ) to earn second-team All-America honors in both events.

“They know that the honor is not just for them as individuals, but for this whole team and for the program,” Arkansas co-Coach Rene Cook said. “We’ve taken a step towards the next level today.”

Arkansas got off to a good start, posting a 49. 125 on the bars to take the lead after the first rotation. Magee’s 9. 90 tied her season and career bests, while Stout (9. 85 ) and Emily Peacock (9. 825 ) turned in strong performances.

Arkansas was solid on the beam in the second rotation with a 48. 575. Amy DeFilippo led Arkansas with a 9. 775 as the scores tightened on the beam.

Arkansas slipped to fifth overall in the team standings, but the Lady Razorbacks roared back on the floor with a 48. 975, led by Peacock’s 9. 825.

Arkansas concluded the meet on the vault, scoring a 49. 150.