Department of athletics, physical education and recreation
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MIT Tallies Season-High Mark for Second Consecutive Meet but Falls to Springfield
Feb. 26, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - MIT's women's gymnastics team recorded a season-high score for the second consecutive meet and sophomore Julia Zimmerman broke her own Institute record in the vault this past weekend in the duPont Gymnasium, but it wasn't enough to earn the victory, as the Engineers were downed by Springfield College, 184.625-182.775. Boston University's club team also competed in the competition, finishing with a final point total of 150.975. Tech dropped to 2-13 with the setback, while the Pride improved to an impressive 9-1. Springfield freshman Audrey Lastra secured the all-around crown with a school-record score of 38.250, while Zimmerman flirted with that coveted 38.000 mark for the third consecutive meet, ultimately finishing as the runner-up with a total of 37.825. Zimmerman's junior teammate Sophia Harrison - who was returning to the all-around competition following a back injury - wasn't far behind with a score of 37.650, good for third-place. The Engineers began on the vault and received an instant pick-me-up with the return of senior Ashley Tran from a minor foot injury. The veteran notched a 9.250 to boost her team's score, while sophomore Laura Kelly (9.050) and Harrison (9.475) were impressive as well. However, the best was saved for last as Zimmerman executed a front-handspring-front-layout to break her own MIT record with a 9.650, good enough for first-place. She had equaled her own previous mark of 9.600 just two weeks prior. Kelly (8.675) and Zimmerman (9.35) were again top performers on the uneven bars, but the show was stolen by Harrison, who debuted with a new routine that included her first successful Shaposhnikova release to earn a 9.450 and a tie for first-place in the event. Though the squad uncharacteristically struggled a bit on the beam, it received solid efforts from senior Lara Hershcovitch in the leadoff spot (9.000), as well as freshman Gillian Conahan (9.225) and Harrison (9.250). The Engineers finished on the floor exercise, and it proved to be the team's best overall performance. Kelly stuck her double-back for the first time in duPont en route to a personal-best score 9.025, while junior Sarah Trowbridge posted a season-best 9.325 with the help of some upgraded tumbling. Freshman Katie Mingo also contributed with what head coach Jen Miller-McEachern called "a flawless routine" to earn a 9.350. Harrison netted a 9.475, despite having to water down her routine to continue to let her back heal, while Zimmerman rounded out the afternoon with a personal-best 9.75 - a score that nearly gave her a second Institute record on the afternoon. Miller-McEachern was happy to have her lineup back to near-full-strength, following a season full of waiting for injuries to heal. "We have been working very hard to get back to a full lineup and we were just about there today," she said. "With one regular season home meet left to prepare, we're looking to be a contender at the ECAC Championships in mid-March." That final regular season home meet will take place on Saturday, Mar. 3, at 1:00 p.m. against SUNY-Brockport and West Chester University. Springfield will travel to Ursinus College on that same day and time. |
