Arkansas advances to NCAA meet

Junior All-American Katherine Grable won three event titles and the third-seeded Razorbacks scored 196.950 Saturday night at the NCAA regional in Corvallis, Ore., to clinch a sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships.

Arkansas finished second in the meet behind Georgia (197.425) to advance to the NCAA Championships, which will be April 20 in Los Angeles. Arizona State (195.700) finished third, followed by Oregon State (195.375), Boise State (195.350) and California (195.125).

Grable matched her career-best marks on the floor and the vault with 9.95s to win both events and turned in a season-best 39.650 to win the all-around competition.

“I am just so shocked right now,” Arkansas co-Coach Rene Lyst said. “We thought coming into the meet that Oregon State would win as the host and we would be in a two-way battle with Georgia.”

The Razorbacks turned in their second-highest score in regional history with a 49.250 on the floor and turned in another 49.250 in the vault. Arkansas scored a 49.150 on the bars, then clinched its spot in the NCAA Championships with a 49.300 on the beam.

“It was just awesome to finish the way we did on the beam,” Lyst said. “This was a really fun meet for us throughout the whole time. Everyone competed extremely well for us, and I still can’t describe the feeling right now about making it to the National Championship meet.”