Alabama repeats, Arkansas at No. 6
DULUTH, Ga. — The SEC has another NCAA gymnastics title, but Arkansas had to settle for its fourth top-10 finish in the past five years.
Arkansas finished sixth Saturday in the NCAA Gymnastics Championship at the Gwinnett Center as Alabama edged fellow SEC member Florida to capture its second consecutive national championship.
Alabama posted a 197.850 to defeat runner-up Florida, which posted a 197.775 and recorded its sixth top-five finish in the past seven years.
UCLA was third at 197.750, followed by fellow Pacific-12 members Stanford (197.500) and Utah (197.375). Arkansas finished last among the Super Six qualifiers with a 196.300.
The Razorbacks advanced to the Super Six for the second time by finishing third in Friday’s NCAA Championship Session II semifinal. It was Arkansas’ second Super Six appearance in four years, with its other trip coming in 2009.
“We had a lot of questions marks toward the end of the season and even leading up to the regional with injuries,” Arkansas co-coach Rene Cook said. “Just to get to the Super Six is fantastic.”
Entering the final rotation, Florida led Alabama by only .025. The Gators scored a 49.40 on the floor, but Alabama finished with a 49.50 on the beam to secure its sixth national championship.
Ashley Priess closed out the Tide’s winning performance with a 9.950.
“I realized our scores had matched up with theirs pretty well and it was going to come down to that last routine,” Alabama Coach Sarah Patterson said. “I knew that Ashley was going on the balance beam, and I knew it came down to that routine.”
Arkansas’ 196.30 is the school’s fourth-best in the NCAA Championships, and the Razorbacks tied the overall school record with a 49.45 on vault, led by sophomore Scarlett Williams’ career-high 9.925.
“It means a lot to get to the Super Six,” Williams said. “We came out and fought hard.”
The Razorbacks started on bars, where they scored a 49.175. It was the Razorbacks’ second-best score in the NCAA Championship, trailing only their 49.275 from Friday night’s semifinal session.
Arkansas moved to beam for the second rotation, where the Razorbacks scored a 49.225.
After its bye, Arkansas went to the floor and was forced to count a couple of mistakes and finished with a 48.45.
That left the Razorbacks at 146.85 and fourth through four rotation, well behind leader Florida (148.375).
Arkansas closed the meet on vault and finished with its best mark of the day, a 49.45, which tied the overall school record.
Arkansas senior All-american Jaime Pisani and sophomore Katherine Grable will compete today in the individual event finals. Pisani will compete on floor and on beam, while Grable will compete on beam.