Feb. 4, 2000

LEXINGTON, Kty. - The University of Kentucky gymnastics team took third-place at its first tri-meet of the season versus Georgia and Denver. Georgia took first place in the meet with a 196.675. Denver followed with a 194.575, while Kentucky scored a 191.225.

Freshman Mindy Smith won the all-around competition with her season-high 38.675. Smith wasn't originally supposed to compete in the all-around, but was inserted into the vault line-up at the last minute.

The GymKats (1-4, 1-2 SEC) opened up competition on the uneven bars, where they were led by sophomore Jessie Lemp. Lemp finished with a 9.800. Senior Krissy Hoeferlin finished second for Kentucky with a 9.775. The Kats struggled in the second rotation on the balance beam, where they were forced to count three falls. Smith led UK with a 9.725, while freshman Melanie Zaharias contributed a 9.700.

The third rotation found Kentucky on the floor exercise, where Smith and senior Mila Chitwood both contributed a 9.850 to lead UK. The Kats finished with a 48.150 on the floor exercise. In the final rotation, Hoeferlin stepped up big for the Kats, contributing a team-high 9.825. Zaharias finished second for the Kats with a 9.675, while the Kats finished vault with a 48.400.

The GymKats are back in action on Friday, Feb. 11, when the return home to face Illinois, James Madison and Nebraska at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.

UK Scores