Feb. 6, 2003
The University of Kentucky gymnastics team will play host to the Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas, Illinois-Chicago and Texas Woman’s University on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET, in Memorial Coliseum. The quad meet will feature a special appearance by 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug.
The GymKats (4-3) will be looking to build on last week’s school-record-tying performance against No. 16 Brigham Young, where they posted a score of 49.325 as a team on vault. Leading the way, junior All-American Aronda Primault posted a career-high score of 9.950 on the apparatus.
Arkansas is in its first season as a varsity gymnastics team and will compete with 11 freshmen. The Lady Razorbacks (0-4) have already faced three teams in the nation’s top 10.
Illinois-Chicago (2-3) has won their last two dual meets after dropping a decision to Auburn. The Flames have never competed against the GymKats.
TWU (2-5) defeated Centenary College and Hamline University last weekend, but could not overcome Southern Utah. The Pioneers played host to Kentucky a year ago in a meet that saw the GymKats set a new school record for total team score with a 196.375.
Kentucky, Arkansas and Illinois-Chicago were all found in the top 25 two weeks ago, but have since fallen just outside the rankings. UIC currently holds the 27th-highest average in the nation, while Arkansas stands at 28th and the GymKats are 33rd. The three teams can be found among the nation’s elite in at least one event. UK has the 12th-strongest vaulting average in the country. Illinois-Chicago ranks 14th on the floor exercise and Arkansas is 17th on the balance beam.
The GymKats will welcome Strug as their special guest during the meet. Strug, whose vault on a badly sprained ankle clinched the U.S. its first team gold in women’s gymnastics competition, is a graduate of Stanford University and a recipient of the Reebok/Lady Foot Locker Giving Back Award, given annually by the Women’s Sports Foundation. She will be available for autographs at 6:30 p.m. on the concourse in Memorial Coliseum.
Live scoring of the meet is available here.
— UK —
