March 31, 2003
Four members of the University of Kentucky gymnastics team earned spots at the 2003 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Regional Championship, it was announced Monday by the NCAA. Seniors Julia Gore and Melanie Zaharias, junior All-American Aronda Primault and sophomore Michelle Gales will compete in the Central Region Championship meet, which will be hosted by the University of Alabama at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, April 12.
Gore, Gales and Primault will be competing in the all-around, while Zaharias will be a vault specialist. Six teams, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event were named to each of the six regions.
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Lincoln, Neb., April 24-26, hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.
Gore, the 2000 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, held the GymKats’ highest all-around regional qualifying score this year. The Pflugerville, Texas, product was hampered by knee and shoulder injuries the past two years, but has returned in 2003 to lead Kentucky on the uneven bars as well. Primault, a 2002 All-American on vault, is looking to make a return visit to the National Championship meet. The Canton, Ohio, native held Kentucky’s top average on vault, balance beam and in the all-around this year.
Gales competed in the all-around only once as a freshman, but has emerged this year as a star for the GymKats. The Atlanta, Ga., product is Kentucky’s top scorer on the floor exercise and has scored above 39.0 in the all-around her past three times out. Zaharias holds Kentucky’s highest RQS on vault. The Lakewood, Colo., native has hit 10 of her 11 vaults this season, scoring at or above 9.85 on eight occasions.
The GymKats missed team qualification for only the third time in the past 19 years. Their RQS was less than eight-tenths of a point behind Michigan State for the final spot in the Central Region.
“I was very pleased with the team’s performance (last week) at the SEC Championship,” Coach Leah Little said. “That was the best we have looked all season. I am a bit disappointed that it was not enough to get the team into the post-season, but its great for these four girls to get there.
“All three of our all-arounders have been great this year. And Melanie and Julia are seniors, so it is great that their careers are not over yet. I am excited for them because I think all four have the skills to make it to Nationals.”
-uk-
