Speed, Shaffer Take Weekly Conference Honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following Arkansas’ record setting performance last Friday against Denver and Iowa State that saw the Razorbacks post the highest score in program history of 197.300, senior Braie Speed was named the Southeastern Conference Specialist of the Week, while freshman Sarah Shaffer took home her third Freshman of the Week honor, the conference office announced Tuesday.
It’s the fourth and fifth weekly honor this season for the Razorbacks, as Shaffer was named Freshman of the Week following her performances against Kentucky and Alabama, while fellow freshman Sophia Carter was named Specialist of the Week following her record-setting performance against Georgia. The five weekly honors sets a new program record for most in a single season for the Razorbacks.
Braie Speed | Specialist of the Week
Speed’s Results vs Denver, Iowa State
Vault: 9.900
Bars: 9.950
Speed led the Razorbacks on vault, securing her fourth title of the year on the event with a 9.900. The San Antonio, Texas native has been a staple in the Razorbacks’ vault rotation since the 2016 season, competing on the event in 36-consecutive meets. She has posted scores over 9.800 on vault in 32 of 36 meets and has not recorded a score under 9.800 since Jan. 7, 2017 at UCLA.
On bars, Speed has helped lead a record setting bars lineup this season with five scores over 9.900 this season including a pair of 9.950’s against Arizona, and most recently against Denver and Iowa State.
With Speed leading the way, Arkansas is one of three programs in the country to post multiple bars rotation scores over 49.550 this season, including a program record 49.575 against Arizona. The Razorbacks have posted three of the four highest bars scores in program history this season. Speed is just the third Razorback in program history to be awarded the league’s Specialist of the Week honor, and second this season.
Sarah Shaffer | Freshman of the Week
Shaffer’s Results vs Denver, Iowa State
Vault: 9.825
Bars: 9.825
Beam: 9.900
Floor: 9.950
All-Around: 39.500
Shaffer becomes the first Razorback to take home three weekly conference honors in a single season. The Tyler, Texas native set or tied career highs on beam, floor and in the all-around. Shaffer’s all-around score of 39.500 was the second highest among freshmen in the conference this season and highest by a Razorback since 2016.
It was her first all-around performance since Feb. 23, as Shaffer counted as a scorer on all four events to help lead the Razorbacks to a program record score. She posted multiple scores of 9.900 or higher for the fourth time this season. Her score of 9.950 on floor is the fourth highest in program history and secured her third title on the event this season. Shaffer has now recorded scores of 9.900 or higher on floor six times this season.
Speed, Shaffer and the Razorbacks return to action this Saturday at the SEC Championships in St. Louis. Arkansas is the fifth seed and will begin competition at 2 p.m. on the SEC Network.
For more information on Razorback gymnastics, including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter.
