BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Needing another high score to get solid position for regionalqualifying as a team, the University of Kentucky GymKats scored a 195.850, thesecond-highest score in school history, to finish fifth at the Southeastern ConferenceGymnastics Championships on Friday, March 23. The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs claimedthe title with a 198.000, while No. 3 Alabama took third with a 197.425. Florida finishedthird with a 196.375, LSU took fourth with a 196.300 and Auburn finished sixth with a194.500.

“I am really proud of our gymnasts,” Coach Leah Little said. “This was our highestSEC score ever, and we needed a 195.500 to move up in the regional standings. Weneeded a 49.500 heading into vault to contend for third and fourth and they gave it theirall. I am really proud of all our kids, especially our freshmen who came in here and didnot let the size of the crowd disrupt them. This was our best SEC meet ever.”In the first rotation of the night, the GymKats sat out with a bye, but jumped into thecompetition on bars in the second. Junior and team captain Katie Toups led the waywith a season-high 9.850. Junior Jessie Lemp followed up with a 9.775, while fellowjunior Jennifer Simmons added a 9.725. UK finished solid with a 9.700 from juniorNicole Allen and freshmen Aronda Primault and Julie Joy to give the Kats a team total of48.750.

The GymKats on to the balance beam for the third rotation and scored a 48.825,the third highest of the season. Leading the way for UK was sophomore Mindy Smithwith a 9.850. The score marked her 21st consecutive routine without a fall and her 15thstraight score of 9.800 or better. Simmons scored a season-high 9.825, while Primaultadded a 9.775 and Lemp a 9.725. With a team total of 97.575, UK stood in fifth placejust ahead of Auburn.

After another bye in the fourth rotation, UK entered the fifth on the floor exerciseneeding a solid score to stay in contention for their highest finish in school history. Andthe GymKats responded with a 49.300, the second-best floor team total in schoolhistory. Leading the way for UK was the trio of Smith, Joy and Primault who eachmatched her second-best score of the season with a 9.875. Senior Beth Coleman, inher last conference championship, added a career-best 9.850, while Simmons alsocontributed the second-best score of her career with a 9.825 to keep the GymKats infifth place with a team total of 146.875.

UK finished the night on one of their strongest events and tallied a 48.975, itssecond highest score of the season. Coleman finished tops on the team with a solid9.825, while Toups, Joy and Zaharias each added a 9.800. Primault finished the nightwith a 9.750 to give the GymKats their final score of 195.850.

In the all-around competition, freshman scored her third highest total of the seasonwith a 39.075, while Simmons scored a season high with a 39.000.

With tonight’s score, the GymKats may improve their positioning in the hunt for aspot at the regional competition. Coming in, UK was ranked sixth in the Central, with thetop six teams qualifying. If they advance the GymKats will compete on Saturday, April 7,at the NCAA Central Region Championships, hosted by the University of Alabama.

UK Scores

Vault 48.975 Bars 48.750Katie Toups 9.800 Nicole Allen 9.700Julie Joy 9.800 Jessie Lemp 9.775Melanie Zaharias 9.800 Arounda Primault 9.700Aronda Primault 9.750 Julie Joy 9.700Beth Coleman 9.825 Katie Toups 9.850Jennifer Simmons 9.650 Jennifer Simmons 9.725

Beam 48.825 Floor 49.300Jennifer Simmons 9.825 Nicole Allen 9.350Jessie Lemp 9.725 Beth Coleman 9.850Nicole Allen 9.650 Jennifer Simmons 9.825Aronda Primault 9.775 Julie Joy 9.875Mindy Smith 9.850 Mindy Smith 9.875Melanie Zaharias 9.650 Aronda Primault 9.875

All-AroundAronda Primault 39.075Jennifer Simmons 39.000