UA gymnast headed to NCAAs

The good news is that sophomores Kristin McDermott and Heidi Hornbeek did qualify in the all-around competition for the NCAA's.

The bad news is that Hornbeek, the defending co-national champion in the floor exercise, was selected as the fourth alternate, which, according to UA head coach Jim Gault, means that she will not be able to defend her title.

"It's got to be hard for Heidi not being able to defend her title, but what can you do?" Gault said. "Usually when you're selected to go as an alternate unfortunately you do not get to go to the meet."

Hornbeek's troubles started on the uneven parallel bars when she fell during her routine at the Midwest Regionals over the weekend. Hornbeek received a 9.4, which was so low that Gualt discarded it in the team's total for the event, which consists of the top seven scores. Hornbeek injured her knee as well.

After a 9.875 on the beam, her knee got worse, but the pain inside became excrutiating when her all-around score of 38.80 was one-tenth of a point short of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

For McDermott, who took the 12th position for the NCAA meet, this is the first time in her career that she performed in both the all-around and vault as an individual, with scores of 9.55 on vault and 38.90 in the all-around.

"Kristin had a great performance in Salt Lake," UA assistant coach Bill Ryden said. "Kristin has been performing very good gymnastics over the second half of the season, and it was not a surprise that she advanced to nationals."

"I am really happy that I made it to nationals on my first try (in the all around)," McDermott said. "I was surprised, but I did want to go with the rest of the team as well."

McDermott started practicing on the vault only a month ago.

She said she will miss her teammates, but looks forward to the challenge.

"It hurts more that the whole team didn't advance, especially for Becky (Bowers) as the lone senior," she said.