Magee earns SEC weekly honor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas junior Casey Jo Magee earned Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week honors the league office announced Tuesday. The Eugene, Ore., native won her fourth and fifth consecutive all-around titles this week leading tNo. 3 Arkansas (5-1, 2-0 SEC) to a pair of wins at No. 7 Oklahoma Monday and against No. 9 Alabama Friday. The honor is the first for Magee and the sixth weekly league honor in program history. Magee is the winningest all-arounder in program history and is the only gymnast to win more than three consecutive titles. In addition she became the first gymnast to earn a pair of all-around titles in the same week. “This is just awesome for Jo,” said Arkansas co-head coach René Cook. “She has really come through for us as a leader on the floor. She’s doing so many other things besides gymnastics and it’s great to see her hard work and leadership recognized. This is a great accomplishment for Jo and for our program.” “She is so tenacious,” added co-head coach Mark Cook. “Her focus and drive is something you want to see in every athlete. She’s a lot of fun to work with.” Magee moved up to third in the nation after a pair of all-around wins over regional and conference opponents. She helped Arkansas move up to a program-high tie for third in the national rankings this week and paced Arkansas to a school-record 196.900 in the win over Oklahoma. The wins at OU and against Bama were just two of the three victories Magee and the Razorbacks had in the span of eight days. The whirlwind stretch began Jan. 23, when the Razorbacks upset No. 1 Florida with Magee setting a school record with a 49.525 in the all-around. The team faced OU on the road three days later with a record-setting win only to battle the elements in the two-day return to Northwest Arkansas. With little rest, Magee paced Arkansas to the program’s first regular-season SEC win over the Crimson Tide Friday launching the Razorbacks up in the national polls to a program-best tie for third. Magee and the Razorbacks continue SEC competition this week, traveling to No. 31 Kentucky Friday. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.