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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite tallying the sixth-highest floor exercise score inschool history and winning two individual event honors, the University of Kentuckygymnastics team finished third in a quad meet at the University of Florida onFriday, March 2, with a team score of 193.700. No. 10 Florida won the meet witha 195.175, while No. 8 Iowa State claimed third with a 195.075 and Ball Statetook fourth with a 193.500.
With the four-team format, UK (3-8, 0-5 Southeastern Conference) startedon the bars where junior Jennifer Simmons and freshman Julie Joy each scored a9.750. Three other GymKats, juniors Jessie Lemp, Katie Toups, and freshmanAronda Primault, tallied 9.675s to give Kentucky a team total of 48.525. Withstrong performances from Florida on vault and Iowa State on beam, UK was inthird at the end of the first rotation, only 0.325 behind the leading Gators.
UK moved to the balance beam next where they have been phenomenalthe last three meets. Sophomore Mindy Smith led the way again as she notcheda 9.875 for the third time this season to win individual honors, while Lemp added aseason-high 9.825. However, the GymKats had to count three falls for a beamtotal of 47.450 and slipped into fourth place with a 97.275 team total. The Gatorsslipped into third, counting two falls of their own on bars, as the Cyclones made amove into first.
The third rotation took UK to its strongest event in 2001, the floor exercise,and the GymKats tallied their best event score of the night with a 49.025, settinga season best and matching the sixth-best floor score in team history. Primaultled the way with a career-best 9.900 to finish second and was followed by Smithsseason-best 9.875. Joy added a 9.775, while senior Beth Coleman scored a 9.725and Allen scored a 9.650 for the UK cause. In the team standings, UK stayed infourth with a total of 145.000. The most notable aspect of the rotation wasSmiths routine which the Ernestine Weaver Award as the most creative andentertaining routine of the competition.
The GymKats ended the night on the vault where they scored a 48.700 tosurpass the Ball State for third place. Coleman led the team and won theindividual honors with a 9.825, while Zaharias and Simmons each added a 9.750.Primault finished the night with a 9.700, and Toups contributed a 9.675 to theteam total of 193.700.
In the all-around competition, the GymKats only competitor, Primault,finished sixth with a total score of 38.475.
UK returns to action on Friday, March 9, when they play host to BowlingGreen, Central Michigan and Pittsburgh for its final home meet. Senior NightFestivities get under way at Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m. EST.
UK Scores
Vault 48.700 Uneven Bars 48.525Katie Toups 9.675 Jessie Lemp 9.675Melanie Zaharias 9.750 Aronda Primault 9.675Julie Joy 9.625 Julie Joy 9.750Jennifer Simmons 9.750 Katie Toups 9.675Aronda Primault 9.700 Jennifer Simmons 9.750Beth Coleman 9.825 Melanie Zaharias 9.275
Balance Beam 47.450 Floor Exercise 49.025Karla Adelt 9.225 Nicole Allen 9.750Jessie Lemp 9.825 Beth Coleman 9.725Nicole Allen 9.325 Jennifer Simmons 9.250Aronda Primault 9.200 Julie Joy 9.775Mindy Smith 9.875 Mindy Smith 9.875Melanie Zaharias 9.125 Aronda Primault 9.900
