Gator Gymnasts Fourth at SEC Championships

Saturday, March 18

Gainesville, FL

7:00 PM

Florida Gators

Southeastern Conference Championships

Gator Gymnasts Fourth at SEC Championships

Saturday, March 18, 2000 | Gymnastics

By: UF Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 University of Florida gymnastics team turned in its third-best score of the 2000 season, but it only could earn the Gators fourth place in the Southeastern Conference Championships, held Saturday in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 3,088. Alabama, the nation's second-ranked team, claimed its first league title since 1995 with a score of 197.20. Georgia and Louisiana State shared second at 196.825 – marking the first time in the meet's 20-year history that there was a tie for any place in the team standings. Florida turned in a 195.775 to take fourth, followed by Kentucky (194.65) and Auburn (192.50).

Florida senior Chrissy Van Fleet was named the Co-Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year, sharing the award with Alabama's Andrea Pickens and Auburn's Sarah Wentworth. She is the first Gator to claim the award since Kristen Guise (1996). Van Fleet was runner-up in the SEC all-around for the second consecutive year, posting a 39.425. Alabama's Pickens claimed the all-around title at 39.60. Pickens also won the vault (9.925) and uneven bars (9.925) titles. Georgia's Kristi Lichey won the balance beam title with a 9.925, and her teammate Suzanne Sears claimed the floor title at 9.95.

By finishing among the SEC's top six all-arounders, Van Fleet becomes only the second Gator in school history to earn a spot on the All-SEC team four times, joining former Gator Hall of Famer Elfi Schlegel, who earned a spot on the 1983-86 teams. Van Fleet was runner-up on the uneven bars (9.90) and floor exercise (9.90).

Junior Teal Chiabotti led the Gators on the vault, tying for ninth at 9.825. Sophomore Hilary Thompson, who was listed as questionable prior to the meet due to a knee injury, showed no problems Saturday, posting UF's top beam mark of 9.85 to tie for sixth overall.

"From what I could see, all the teams did a sensational job," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "It's such a zoo out there, I could hardly watch, but they looked really good."

"We'd be cleaner if we could work harder, but we have to hold back because we don't want to see anyone get hurt."

The Gators will now advance to NCAA Regional competition, which will be held on Saturday, April 1. The announcements regarding which teams will be placed in what regions will be announced on Monday, March 20.