Florida Gymnasts Fourth in NCAA Super Six

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Florida gymnastics team (10-6, 3-3 SEC) took fourth in Friday's NCAA Super Six team final Friday evening in front of a Bob Devaney Sports Center crowd of 3,090.

Top-seeded Georgia collected its fifth consecutive NCAA team title with a total of 197.825. Alabama was second at 197.575 and Utah took third at 197.425. Florida posted a 196.725 to take its second consecutive fourth-place finish. Rounding out the Super Six team finishes was Arkansas (196.475) and LSU (196.375).

This was the eighth NCAA Super Six appearance for the Gators (1994, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) since the format began in the 1993 season. The highest NCAA finish for the Gators was second in the 1998 event held in Los Angeles, Calif. Five of Florida's appearances have come in the seven years under Head Coach Rhonda Faehn.

Florida opened its Super Six competition on the uneven bars by matching its total of 49.15 of yesterday's team qualifying session. Senior Corey Hartung led UF on the event with her mark of 9.875.

The Gators turned in a solid set on the balance beam, posting a 49.20. Junior Melanie Sinclair and Hartung each posted UF's high mark of 9.875 for the event.

Florida came off its final bye to post a floor exercise team total of 49.375 - the Gators' highest since its Feb. 28 dual at Georgia. Hartung equaled her collegiate-best of 9.95 for the second time this season and the seventh time of her career. Maranda Smith turned in a 9.90 - her fourth 9.90 on floor of the last five meets.

Florida needed a strong vault set to put itself in position to claim the fourth-place trophy. The task was made more difficult when the Gators' opening vaulter had trouble and received a mark of 9.45. But the next four vaulters turned in scores of 9.80 or above - Courtney Gladys (9.80), Smith and Sinclair (9.85 each) and Hartung (9.90). Junior Ashley Kerr matched her collegiate-best of 9.60 to give UF a vault team total of 49.00. It was Florida's fifth meet of the season with four events team totals of 49.00 or better.

Florida sends four to the Saturday's individual event finals. The NCAA Individual Event Finals begin at 7 p.m. Florida's participants are:

Gators in 2009 NCAA Individual Event Finals

Name -- Event
Alicia Goodwin -- Uneven Bars
Corey Hartung -- Floor Exercise
Melanie Sinclair -- Uneven Bars
Maranda Smith -- Vault

Courtesy UF Sports Information