Best finish ever at SEC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Arkansas recorded its best finish ever at the Southeastern Conference Championship by finishing fourth at the meet in Birmingham on Saturday.
No. 2 Alabama won with a 197.225, followed by No. 1 Florida 196.975, No. 8 Georgia 196.625, No. 12 Arkansas 195.800, No. 19 LSU 195.475, No. 22 Auburn 195.325 and No. 29 Kentucky 193.950.
Arkansas’ team total of 195.800 is its best ever in the SEC Championship.
"This is the best finish we’ve ever had at the SEC meet," co-head coach Mark Cook said. "Our best finish before was fifth. We thought we were a little ahead of Georgia after three events, but we couldn’t hold them off. This is the hardest meet of the year."
Jaime Pisani tied for second on vault, Mariah Howdeshell tied for seventh on bars, Katherine Grable tied for seventh on beam and Pisani tied for third on floor. In the all-around, Grable was fifth, Jordan Salsberg 13th and Grable 14th.
"Katherine had a great meet, Jaime was outstanding on three events and Mariah had a big bars routine," Cook said.
Arkansas set a school record for team vault score in the SEC meet, and Pisani tied two school SEC meet records. The Razorbacks had a 49.325 on vault, and Pisani tied the school marks of 9.90 on floor and vault.
Arkansas opened with a bye, then moved to floor for its first event and scored a 48.975.
For the Razorbacks, Pisani tied the school record for the SEC meet with a 9.90. Grable had a 9.85, Kelci Lewis a 9.80, Amy Borsellino a 9.775, Salsberg a 9.65 and Amanda Siebert a 9.625.
Siebert stumbled on one of her passes and Salsberg stepped out of bounds for a deduction. Pisani tied the school record already shared with Dana McQuillin.
Arkansas’ 48.975 is its fifth-best in the SEC meet.
Through two rotations, Alabama had a 98.375 through two events, Florida a 49.25, Arkansas a 48.975, Georgia a 48.90, Kentucky a 48.725, Auburn a 48.70 and LSU a 47.925.
Following floor, Arkansas had another bye, then moved to vault, where the Razorbacks set a school record for the SEC meet with a 49.325, which also ties for the sixth-best in school history for any meet.
Pisani had a 9.90, tying Michelle Stout’s school record for the SEC meet set in 2009. Grable and Salsberg had a 9.875 each, Stout a 9.85, Borsellino a 9.825 and Siebert a 9.725.
Borsellino and Salsberg matched their career highs.
Through Arkansas’ vault rotation, the meet scores were Alabama 147.725, Kentucky 145.275, Arkansas 98.30, Florida 98.20, Georgia 98.15, Auburn 97.525 and LSU 96.975. Alabama and Kentucky’s scores were through three events. The others were through two.
After another bye, Arkansas moved to bars and had a 48.675.
Mariah Howdeshell had a 9.85, Stout a 9.825, Grable a 9.75, Genny Salvatore a 9.70, Salsberg a 9.55 and Pisani a 9.175. On beam, the Razorbacks scored a 48.825. Grable had a 9.85, Pisani a 9.80, Salsberg, Scarlett Williams and Stacy Bartlett a 9.725 each, and Shelby Salmon a 9.65.
Arkansas is expected to receive a spot in an NCAA Regional for the eighth straight season. Those selections will be announced on Monday.
NCAA Regional sites this year are Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan); Athens, Ga. (Georgia); Corvallis, Ore. (Oregon St.); Denver, Colo. (Denver); Norman, Okla. (Oklahoma); and Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Alabama).
MEET RESULTS
SEC ChampionshipBirmingham, Ala.Saturday, March 19Att.: 8,025
Team Standings:Alabama 197.225, Florida 196.975, Georgia 196.625, Arkansas 195.800, LSU 195.475, Auburn 195.325, Kentucky 193.950.
Arkansas’ Individual Results
Floor: 48.975Amanda Siebert 9.625, Jordan Salsberg 9.65, Amy Borsellino 9.775, Kelci Lewis 9.80, Katherine Grable 9.85, Jaime Pisani 9.90
Vault: 49.325Amanda Siebert 9.725, Jordan Salsberg 9.875, Amy Borsellino 9.825, Katherine Grable 9.875, Jaime Pisani 9.90,Michelle Stout 9.85
Bars: 48.675Jordan Salsberg 9.55, Katherine Grable 9.75, Genny Salvatore 9.70, Jaime Pisani 9.175, Michelle Stout 9.825, Mariah Howdeshell 9.85
Beam:48.825Scarlett Williams 9.725, Jaime Pisani 9.80, Jordan Salsberg 9.725, Shelby Salmon 9.65,Katherine Grable 9.85, Stacy Bartlett 9.725
Download: sec meet.pdf
