Gymnastics: Morris Strong in Career Finale
April 16, 2009 06:50 PM | General
April 16, 2009
Session I Results
 |
||
| Mehgan Morris |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia senior gymnast Mehgan Morris closed out her Mountaineer career finishing 18th at the 2009 NCAA Championship this afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb.
The Belle, W.Va., native earned 39.05 points, her eighth consecutive 39.00-plus score of the season. Morris concludes her career with 15 39.00-plus scores, the fifth-best total in Mountaineer history.
Morris competed alongside No.5-ranked LSU, which finished third overall with 196.30 points, in the championship's first preliminary session.
"I had a great experience today," Morris says. "I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to compete at the national championship. I competed alongside some of the nation's best athletes, and they were just a joy to watch. Overall, I have had a fun experience."
"Obviously, we wish Mehgan would have scored better, but she did not miss a routine today," says Coach Linda Burdette. "She had a good day, and I'm happy she had the chance to come out to Lincoln and compete at the championship."
Having excelled all season as the Mountaineers' top point-earner, Morris was most successful on the floor today, scoring 9.825 points, the fifth best point total of the session, and finishing tied for 12th overall. Morris just missed qualifying for the NCAA Championship's Individual Event Finals, as the top four scores advance to Saturday's final.
Morris opened the afternoon with 9.75 points (31st place) on the balance beam, 0.125 points better than her season average (9.625). The WVU co-captain also earned 9.775 points (29th place) on the uneven bars and 9.70 points (40th place) on the vault.
Today's score pushes Morris' career point total to 1,623.975 and moves her in to 12th place on the WVU Career Points List.
Additionally, Morris concludes the season with 469.10 points, the 34th best season point total in program history. This is Morris' second appearance on the list, as her junior season point total (515.575) ranks 10th.
"I think Mehgan has had a wonderful career," Burdette says. "The entire coaching staff is very proud of her and the way she carried herself today."
Georgia (197.45), Florida (196.375) and LSU (196.325) advanced from today's session to Friday night's Super Six Team Finals.
