Monday, April 20, 2009

KUPETS LEADS GEORGIA TO 5th NCAA TITLE


LINCOLN, Neb., April 18, 2009 – 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist Courtney Kupets, a senior at the University of Georgia, added three individual event titles to her 2009 NCAA team and all-around crowns at the 2009 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships, held at the University of Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. Kupets won uneven bars and balance beam, and tied for first on floor exercise with Louisiana State University’s Ashleigh Clare-Kearney. Clare-Kearney claimed the vault crown.

Kupets now has nine career NCAA individual titles, surpassing the mark of eight set by the University of Kentucky's Jenny Hansen in 1993-95. Her individual titles are: three in the all-around (2006-07, 2009), two on uneven bars (2006, 2009), two on balance beam (2006, 2009), one on vault (2007) and one on floor exercise (2009). She also won three team national championships (2006-07, 2009). Kupets missed the 2008 NCAA Championships with a torn Achilles tendon.

On uneven bars, Kupets scored a 9.9500 to finish first, with Stanford University’s Carly Janiga placing second at 9.9125 and the University of Florida’s Alicia Goodwin and the University of Utah’s Kristina Baskett tying for third at 9.9000.

Kupets and Georgia teammate Courtney McCool, also a 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist, placed first and second, respectively, on balance beam with scores of 9.9875 and 9.9500. Sharing third place with scores of 9.9000 were Baskett, the University of Alabama’s Ashley Priess and University of Arkansas’ Sarah Nagashima.

Kupets and Clare-Kearney each posted a 9.9500 to top the field on floor exercise. Florida’s Corey Hartung finished third with a 9.9000. Clare-Kearney won vault with a 9.9000, followed by LSU teammate Susan Jackson in second with a 9.8938. Kupets and Baskett shared third place after each scored a 9.8563.


GIBSON Athletic is a proud sponsor of the NCAA. Please visit www.gibsonathletic.com or call 1-800-275-5999 for all your gymnastics needs. Congratulations to all men's and women's NCAA Gymnastics participants on a great season!


Source: www.usa-gymnastics.org

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