Stout finishes fourth at NCAA Championship on vault

Jump to complete meet results ATHENS, Ga. – University of Arkansas sophomore Michelle Stout made history as the first gymnast in program history to earn a trip to the NCAA Championship event finals Saturday. The two-vault format saw Stout start in the first flight Saturday after earning first-team all-America honors by way of a tie for first on the event during Thursday’s team competition. Teammate sophomore Casey Jo Magee was a two-time second-team all-American on vault and bars but did not advance to the individual finals. “Finishing in the top 10, having our first all-American and getting to the individual finals were some of our goals this year and we were able to do all of that this week,” said Arkansas co-head coach René Cook. “Mark and I couldn’t be more pleased or proud of the team.” “I’m very excited about having our first athlete in the event finals and our first on the awards stand,” said Arkansas co-head coach Mark Cook. “Michelle performed a vault that she hasn’t done in two years and did it quite well. “It was an exciting weekend for our program, our university and the state,” added Mark Cook. As for Saturday’s competition, Stout got two vaults averaging out to 9.80. That was good for a fourth-place finish Saturday. Stout regularly performs a Yurchenko layout full vault but had to add a second vault that she practiced for less than an hour Friday. The Endwell, N.Y. native, added a Yurchenko Arabian layout for her second vault. LSU’s Susan Jackson, tied for eighth on vault in the country, won the event edging No. 7 Kristina Baskett of Utah and No. 30 Julie Dwyer of Auburn who tied, 9.8563-9.8438. Stout, who is tied for 46th in the country, bettered No. 5 Kayla Hoffman of Alabama who averaged 9.7625 and No. 40 Marcia Newby of Georgia who posted a 9.7563 for sixth place in the 10-gymnast contest. As a team, Arkansas finished fifth in its session Thursday and 10th overall. Top-ranked Georgia won the team competition winning its fourth in a row and ninth title overall. Stout’s performance Saturday concludes the 2008 gymnastics season. For more information regarding Razorback gymnastics or University of Arkansas athletics please visit www.LADYBACKS.com.