Magee wraps up season at NCAA Championship

Jump to sessionone scores FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas freshman gymnast Casey Jo Magee tied several season-bests in her first appearance at the NCAA Gymnastics Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday. Magee, a Eugene, Ore., native, qualified as an all-arounder at the NCAA Northeast Regional in mid-April. The Gym’Backs just missed advancing as a team. Flying solo at the NCAA’s biggest meet of the year, Magee was bit by the nerve bug on her first event and fell on the balance beam. Typically her strongest event, Magee scored a 9.250. Rotating with second-ranked Georgia, Magee next moved to the floor exercise where she tied her season-best with a 9.80. She matched that on the vault tying her season-high with a 9.850. Finally, Magee just missed a season-best on bars scoring a 9.825. She finished with an all-around total of 38.725. “Unfortunately, Casey Jo had an uncharacteristic mistake on the beam,” said co-head coach Rene Cook. “She finished strong on the following three events and we’re proud of her accomplishment. Her performance will only build confidence for her and next year’s team.” Magee is the second individual to qualify for the NCAA Championship meet in the five-year history of the Gym’Back program. Dana McQuillin (2003-06) qualified as a junior in 2005. McQuillin returned in 2006 as a senior helping Arkansas to its first team appearance at the NCAA Championship. The first session was just completed with second-ranked Georgia advancing with a 197.700. Top-ranked Florida was second with a 197.40 followed by Nebraska with 196.625. The trio advance facing the top three teams from the evening session Friday. Third-ranked Alabama finished fifth in the first session, failing to advance. Magee’s performance officially concludes the 2007 season for Arkansas gymnastics. For more information about the Gym’Back program and the success of the 2007 season, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.