Gymnastics: Cox Breaks School Record
March 24, 2007 09:40 PM | General
March 24, 2007
MEET RESULTS
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| Janáe Cox |
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – West Virginia senior gymnast Janáe Cox scored 39.15 points in the all-around to become the school’s all-time leading scorer as the No. 24 WVU gymnastics team edged No. 22 Minnesota 194.650-194.625, on Saturday at the Sports Pavillion in Minneapolis, Minn.
Cox, the reigning EAGL gymnast of the week, passed former WVU gymnast Lajuanda Moody’s career total of 1,933.7 points in 52 career meets from 1991-94. Cox’s current career total of 1,943.325 points has been tallied in 51 career meets. The Otisco, Ind., native now needs just 57 points to become the school’s first ever 2,000 point scorer.
"Janáe has been one of the best gymnasts we have ever had and tonight was such a tribute for what she has done in her career," head coach Linda Burdette said. "She always works hard and is steady and its hard to really comprehend what she has accomplished at WVU in her career."
Cox also finished first in the all-around with a score of 39.15, her school record 34th all-around score above 39 points in her career.
West Virginia (22-8, 11-1 EAGL) trailed the Golden Gophers 48.650-48.300 after its first rotation on the uneven bars. Sophomore Mehgan Morris swung a team-high 9.825 score from the judges while teammates Jaime Gold (9.75) and Katie McGregor (9.7) posted some of their better scores of the season. Morris took the individual title, Cox was second with a 9.725 and Gold’s score tied for third.
On vault, the Mountaineers scored 48.800 points and narrowed the margin to 97.250-97.100. Gold vaulted a team-high 9.875 to lead the way of West Virginia. Cox added a 9.8 after Chelsi Tabor and Erica Watson scored a 9.725 and 9.75, respectively. Gold claimed the individual vault title.
The Mountaineers paired its solid vault score with a 48.850 on floor to jump the Gophers and take the lead 145.950-145.675 after three events. The Mountaineers got 9.825s from Morris and Tynisha Dennis before Cox ended the team’s lineup with a 9.8. Freshman Shelly Purkat also posted a 9.775 on floor, her highest score since the first meet of the season when she garnered a 9.8. Dennis and Morris would tie for the floor individual title.
WVU headed to beam and was able to hold off the Gophers to pick up the victory. The Mountaineers tallied a season high of 48.700 points on beam led by Purkat’s 9.85, a meet high. Amie Bouchier, Cox and Morris all scored 9.7s or better to give WVU a strong finish. The team beam score was the team's highest since scoring 48.675 points at NC State on Feb. 17.
West Virginia’s team composite score of 194.650 was its second best road score of the year and with the win, WVU matched last season’s win total of 22.
West Virginia’s regular season comes to an end and the Mountaineers will now prepare for the East Atlantic Gymnastic League (EAGL) Championships on Friday, March 30, in College Park, Md.
