LSU Defeats UF – Thompson Matches Gator Beam Record

Friday, February 26

Baton Rouge, LA

8:00 PM

Florida Gators

Louisiana State

LSU Defeats UF – Thompson Matches Gator Beam Record

Friday, February 26, 1999 | Gymnastics

By: UF Communications

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The No. 18 University of Florida gymnastics team turned in its second-highest team score of the season Friday in front of Pete Maravich Assembly Center crowd of 4,551, but couldn't overcome No. 4 Louisiana State. The Tigers posted a season-high team total of 196.95, while UF turned in a 194.975. Florida drops to 3-8 for the season, while LSU moves to 5-2.

"There were some real highlights tonight," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "Most noticeably was a great balance beam performance by the team and some really strong individual performances on the floor exercise.

This is one of our best meets as far a consistency – this is exactly what we needed and is what we need to continue to do," she continued. "LSU was on fire tonight, but I was happy with what I saw from the Gators."

Freshman Hilary Thompson turned in one of the Gators' brightest highlights of the evening, as she matched the Florida all-time balance beam record of 9.95 to share the meet's beam title with LSU's Stacey Wegener. The beam record was set by UF's Tracy Wilson in 1991 and matched by Kristen Guise three times. The Gators improved on their season-best balance beam team total by .65 tenths of a point Friday evening, as they posted a 49.175.

Florida encountered some troubles early in the meet, as the Gators were forced to count one fall toward the uneven bars team total of 48.45. The Gators were led on the event by Chrissy Van Fleet and Betsy Hamm, who each posted marks of 9.85. On their next rotation, UF turned in a solid vault team total of 48.70. Florida was again led by Van Fleet, who took second overall on the event with a mark of 9.875. Thompson, who posted a mark of 9.85, led the Gators on the floor exercise for the second consecutive meet. UF's turned in a team total of 48.65 for the floor.

LSU freshman Shanyn MacEachern won the evening's all-around title at 39.60, while teammate Abbey Burns was second at 39.525. UF's Van Fleet turned in a season-best all-around total of 39.425 to take third. MacEachern also won the vault and uneven bars titles with identical mark of 9.925. LSU's Wegener also claimed the floor title with a mark of 9.925.

The Gators return home to play host to the SunTrust Invitational featuring No. 17 Iowa State, Auburn and North Carolina on Friday, March 5. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.