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Liljenquist finishes 7th in all-around, Hornbeek out with injury

UA sophomore Randi Liljenquist has been able to rely on her teammates for support all season. That changed yesterday, though, as Liljenquist found herself as the lone representative from Arizona at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships in Boise, Idaho.

Even without her teammates at her side, Liljenquist gave a strong effort hitting on all four of her the events and finishing seventh overall in the all-around with a score of 39.075.

"She did very well and had very good meet," head coach Bill Ryden said.

Liljenquist missed qualifying for the individual event competition on the beam by five hundredths of a point and therefore did not qualify for the individual finals which take place on Saturday.

"I think that this was a great learning experience for her," Ryden said. "She knows now what it will take next year to be better."

Senior All-American Heidi Hornbeek was also supposed to be competing in the all-around yesterday but pulled out at the last minute due to back injuries. Hornbeek has three permanent fractures in her back, and three torn disks that are bulging and leaking.

"Her back was so bad that it got to the point where she couldn't stand up straight on the beam to maintain her balance," Ryden said. "She was having shooting intense pain and numbness so we discussed it and decided it would be best for her not to go."

Ryden said that the decision for Hornbeek not to compete in the championships was the toughest decision he has made as a head coach.

"If she went, she wasn't going to be able to compete at the level she would want to," Ryden said. "She has done everything when it comes to the sport of gymnastics and she has nothing left to prove."