Oregon State
NCAA Championships (Event Finals)
Elilzabeth Jillson Places 11th On Bars At NCAA Championships
April 20, 2002 | Women's Gymnastics
April 20, 2002
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Elizabeth Jillson scored a 9.7875 on bars in the individual event finals at the NCAA Championships on Saturday to tie for 11th place.
Alabama's Andree' Pickens won the national championship on bars with a 9.925. A total of 13 gymnasts -- including three Olympians -- competed on the event.
"I was really proud of (Elizabeth). She kept her composure and stayed focused. This is a different environment, and she did a wonderful job," said coach Tanya Chaplin.
Jillson, a junior, was competing in event finals for the first time. She advanced to finals after scoring a 9.85 to place fourth in the evening session of Thursday's preliminary competition. She was named a first team All-American for that performance, earning OSU's 10th All-American honor on bars and 63rd overall. Jillson narrowly missed All-American honors as a sophomore when she finished one place shy of that status.
"It was an honor to represent Oregon State, but I wish I could have done better. This wasn't my best routine, but I'm very pleased I made it to finals," Jillson said. "It was awesome to be here, and I know my teammates are proud of me."
She is the first Beaver to advance to event finals on bars since 1996, the last time nationals were held at Alabama. Heather Bennett placed second with a 9.95 at that meet, matching OSU's highest NCAA finish on bars (Chari Knight also placed second in 1991).
"This experience is going to strengthen her for next year, and she'll continue to lead the team on the event," said Chaplin. "This is a great experience for her to be able to take back and share with the team."
UCLA's Jamie Dantzscher won the vault title with an average score of 9.957 on her two vaults, narrowly edging out Georgia's Marline Stephens (9.950). Dantzscher also won the floor title with a 9.95, sharing the championship with LSU's Nicole Arnstad. Michigan's Elise Ray scored a 9.925 on beam to win the national title on beam.
ResultsBars: 1. Andree' Pickens, Alabama - 9.925 2. Doni Thompson, UCLA - 9.9125 3. Onnie Willis, UCLA - 9.900 4. Natalie Barrington, Alabama - 9.8875 T5. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA - 9.8625 T5. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah - 9.8625 T5. Alexis Maday, Iowa - 9.8625 T5. Yvonne Tousek, UCLA - 9.8625 9. AJ Lamb, Nebraska - 9.8375 10. Julie Houk, Nebraska - 9.8000 T11. Elizabeth Jillson, Oregon State - 9.7875 T11. Elise Ray, Michigan - 9.7875 13. Chelsa Byrd, Georgia - 9.750
Other Events
Vault (Two vaults, scores are averaged): 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA - 9.9565 2. Marline Stephens, Georgia - 9.9505 3. Andree' Pickens, Alabama - 9.9250 4. Elise Ray, Michigan - 9.8625 5. AJ Lamb, Nebraska - 9.8500 6. Alexis Brion, Alabama - 9.8375 7. Alexis Maday, Iowa - 9.8250 8. Kendall Beck, Stanford - 9.7630 9. Jessica Wertz, Nebraska - 9.7440 10. Cory Fritzinger, Georgia - 9.5565 Chelsa Byrd, Georgia - Scratch
Beam: 1. Elise Ray, Michigan - 9.925 2. Jeana Rice, Alabama - 9.912 T3. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah - 9.900 T3. Kristin Sterner, Alabama - 9.900 5. Andree' Pickens, Alabama - 9.863 6. Lise Leveille, Stanford - 9.838 T7. Alyssa Beckerman, UCLA - 9.825 T7. Shannon Bowles, Utah - 9.825 9. Shannon Hrozek, Alabama - 9.800 10. Calli Ryals, Michigan - 9.787 11. Cory Fritzinger, Georgia - 9.762 12. Lindsay Wing, Stanford - 9.750 13. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA - 9.425
Floor: T1. Nicole Arnstad, LSU - 9.950 T1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA - 9.95 3. Shannon Bowles, Utah - 9.925 T4. Alexis Brion, Alabama - 9.9125 T4. Talya Vexler, Georgia - 9.9125 T6. Andree' Pickens, Alabama - 9.900 T6. Calli Ryals, Michigan - 9.900 T6. Onnie Willis, UCLA - 9.900 9. Lauren Companioni, LSU - 9.875 10. MaryAnne Kelley, Minnesota - 9.875 11. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah - 9.8625 12. Kristin Sterner, Alabama - 9.8625 13. Janessa Grieco, Michigan - 9.850 14. Annie Laaatsch, Minnesota - 9.825 15. Melissa Vituj, Utah - 9.825
