Arkansas opens SEC Championship on vault

DULUTH, Ga. — The University of Arkansas gymnastics team opens the 2008 Southeastern Conference Championship on the vault.

Arkansas and the other SEC teams met between practice sessions Friday for a televised "draw" in which a representative from each team selected their program’s starting position at Saturday’s championship. Arkansas selected fifth overall and senior Emily Peacock picked "vault" from a blind draw.

It is the first time in the SEC Championship history Arkansas has started on vault. Florida started on vault last season and won the title. Arkansas will rotate from vault to bye 2, bars, beam, bye 3, floor and finish with bye 1.

The vault is the traditional starting point for teams at most meets and Arkansas came away with the most coveted starting position in the draw.

"I guess we’ll take it," joked co-head coach Mark Cook after the selection.

The SEC Championship begin at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.