FIL-AMERICAN standout Aleah Finnegan once again stamped her class as the second seed Louisiana State University Gymnastics’ team downed the seventh-ranked Florida Gators with a close score of 197.550-197.450 on Friday in the US NCAA Southeast Conference gymnastics’ meet.
Performing in front of 13,515 fans at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the Tigers were boosted by a season-high 49.525 on the beam and a strong finish in the floor rotation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
When action ended, the Tigers grabbed at least a share of every event title, with the Paris Olympics’ veteran Finnegan going home with the floor crown, to go with a part of the vault and all-around titles, according to the team’s official website.
Her teammates Konnor McClain finished on top of bars, while Haleigh Bryant bagged a share of the beam title.
Finnegan, who is tipped to return and see action for the Philippines in the coming Southeast Asian Games, has earned her third consecutive win in the floor event in the Tigers’ first three meets this year.
McClain and Bryant both took home their first event wins of the year, moving their career totals to 10 and 95.
Finnegan scored an almost perfect 9.95 in the fifth floor spot, followed by a 9.90 from graduate student Bryant.
The big showing from Finnegan and Bryant helped LSU lock up the team win for the Tigers.
The all-around title was split by LSU’s Finnegan and Florida’s Selena Harris-Miranda, both finishing with a 39.500.
“It seems like the Florida meet always comes down to a 10th or a 10th and a half, no matter whether it’s here or in Gainesville. I mean, that’s a great team over there. We knew they would come in here and perform well, they always do, and just proud of the team’s fight tonight,” said head coach Jay Clark in a statement on the university website.
According to the scoreline, Freshman Lexi Zeiss got things started for the Tigers in the meet on vault and posted a 9.775 in the opening spot.
After that, Finnegan matched her season-high in second spot with a 9.950 and was followed by 5th-year senior Chase Brock, who scored a 9.725.
Freshman Lexi Zeiss gave the Tigers a good start on the vault when she posted a 9.775 in the opening spot, before Finnegan matched her season-high in second spot with a 9.950.
Freshman Kaliya Lincoln scored a 9.725 in fourth spot, followed by a 9.85 by sophomore Amari Drayton in spot five, with freshman Kailin Chio hitting a 9.925 to give the Tigers a strong finish to the rotation.