Garner Wins Beam Title At No. 11 Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hailey Garner won her first career balance beam title and her second career individual title overall with a career-best 9.900 on balance beam in the final rotation at No. 11 Kentucky.
Led by Garner, Arkansas (2-7, 2-5 SEC) posted a season-best 49.150 on balance beam, but Kentucky closed out the 196.525-195.275 win on Friday night in Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats (10-3-1, 3-3 SEC) scored a 49.000 or higher in all four events, and Alex Hyland won the all-around with a score of 39.325.
Garner became the fourth different Arkansas gymnast to win an individual title on beam this season, joining Jessica Yamzon, Sydney McGlone and Samantha Nelson.
Braie Speed led three Arkansas gymnasts with scores of 9.800 or higher on uneven bars in the first rotation, as she matched her season best with a 9.850 in the event. She also led the team with a 9.800 on vault in the second rotation and later scored a career-best 9.800 on balance beam.
Makenzie Anderson set a career best with a 9.850 and Samantha Nelson added a 9.850 on floor exercise, but after three rotations, Kentucky continued to lead 147.325-146.125.
Arkansas finished the meet with a season-best 49.150 on balance beam, led by Garner with a career-best 9.900 in the event. Yamzon matched her career mark with a 9.875, while Speed set a new mark with a 9.800. Michaela Burton also scored a 9.825.
Notable
- Kentucky snapped Arkansas’ three-meet winning streak in the series between the two teams.
- Braie Speed led the team on both uneven bars and vault, tying a season best with a 9.850 on uneven bars and scoring a 9.800 on vault. She also scored a career-best 9.800 on balance beam.
- Hailey Garner became the fourth different Arkansas gymnast to win an individual title on balance beam this season, joining Jessica Yamzon, Sydney McGlone and Samantha Nelson.
- Arkansas scored a season-best 49.150 on balance beam with four scores of 9.800 or higher, led by Hailey Garner (9.900) and Jessica Yamzon (9.875).
- Four different gymnasts have combined for seven scores of 9.900 this season:
- Amanda Wellick (Vault at UCLA)
- Sydney McGlone (Vault vs. Missouri, Balance Beam at Georgia)
- Samantha Nelson (Balance Beam at Auburn, Floor Exercise vs. Florida)
- Hailey Garner (Uneven Bars vs. LSU, Balance Beam at Kentucky)
- Six different gymnasts have won a combined 10 individual titles this season across seven different meets and four different events:
- Amanda Wellick (Vault at UCLA)
- Jessica Yamzon (Balance Beam vs. Missouri, All-Around vs. Alabama, All-Around at Auburn)
- Sydney McGlone (Balance Beam at Georgia, Vault vs. Alabama)
- Braie Speed (Vault vs. Alabama)
- Samantha Nelson (Balance Beam at Auburn
- Hailey Garner (Uneven Bars vs. LSU, Balance Beam at Kentucky)
- Hailey Garner made her first career appearance on floor exercise, while Heather Elswick made her second appearance on vault this season and Braie Speed made her third appearance on balance beam.
Quotable – Coach Mark Cook
“We came back from a very difficult meet last week at Michigan State. The girls really rose to the occasion tonight. I was happy with our attitude and approach. We have to get a little better for the next meet, but we’re gaining some confidence going forward.”
Up Next
Arkansas returns home for a Senior Night tri-meet against San Jose State and Centenary on March 10. Arkansas will also compete at the SEC Championship on March 18 in Jacksonville and host an NCAA Regional on April 1 in Barnhill Arena.
Single-meet tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth 17 and under. Admission is also free for UA students with ID. Tickets are also available for the NCAA Regional that Arkansas will be hosting in Barnhill Arena on April 1. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and UA students.
Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS or 479-575-5151.
For more information on Arkansas gymnastics, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
