Razorback gymnastics faces big road test Monday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The eighth-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team is riding high after a huge Southeastern Conference win over top-ranked Florida Friday but the Razorbacks don’t have long to celebrate the victory. Arkansas hit the road Sunday traveling to Norman, Okla., for a South Central Region match-up with No. 5 Oklahoma. “This is definitely a challenging eight-day stretch in our schedule,” said co-head coach René Cook. “But this team wants to push itself and has really been training hard for this part of the season. We know it’s tough but I think we’re up to it.” Arkansas is coming off a first-ever win over the Gators and it is the first time the gymnastics team has beaten the top-ranked team in the country. The Razorbacks travel to Oklahoma and return home hosting No. 9 Alabama Friday in Barnhill Arena. The Monday meet helps the Razorbacks prepare for the quick turn-around of the three-day competition format at the NCAA Championships. “A lot of the top teams have this kind of back-to-back meet scheduled at some point during the year,” said Cook. “It really helps both mentally and physically so that it is not such a challenge in the postseason.” Although focused firmly on the task at OU, Arkansas can’t help but be thrilled with Friday’s meet. Junior Casey Jo Magee set a school record in the all-around with a 39.525 winning her third consecutive all-around title of the year against Florida. Arkansas set a school record on the vault with a 49.325 and had a season-best 49.375 on the floor behind freshman Jaime Pisani who had a career-best 9.925 winning her second individual floor title. Monday’s meet will present its own set of challenges. The Sooners moved up to No. 5 this week after posting the nation’s best score with a 197.175 in a win over Texas Woman’s University last week. The Sooners won every team and individual title in the dual meet. The victory was OU’s 32 in its last 34 regular-season meets. “Oklahoma is a solid team,” said Cook. “They are tough at home and have had two really good scores this year. We are going to have to hit our routines and stay on the equipment but if we can do that, we can challenge them. We’re looking forward to the meet.”