Razorbacks Ready for SEC Championships in Rocket City
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – 727 days. In Rocket City terms, that’s enough time to make a round trip to Mars, but for the University of Arkansas gymnastics team, that’s how long it’s been since the Gymbacks hit the mats at the last SEC Gymnastics Championship in 2019.
Arkansas will make its Session II debut on Saturday evening, earning a spot as one of the top four seeds since the championship changed to the two-session format in 2013. The Razorbacks’ session will begin at 7 p.m. at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena. Joining the Razorbacks in Session II are Alabama, Florida and LSU.
Arkansas will be kicking off the evening on beam for just the second time in school history and first time since 2004. The Gymbacks last posted a 196.475 at the 2019 SEC Championships taking the top spot in the first session. Arkansas’ final team score from 2019 is just second to the program record from 2016, a 196.500.
The Gymbacks have had an extremely successful year, heading into post-season competition registering four scores of 197 or better for the first time in program history. Arkansas boasts its 10th consecutive top-10 team ranking after its historical road meet last week, posting not only a program-best road score but also the highest team score in program history in a 197.425-197.125 victory at Auburn.
Junior Kennedy Hambrick was a key part of Arkansas’ successful night at Auburn, claiming the vault title with a 9.950 and all-around title, scoring a notable 39.700, while lifting the Gymbacks to a season-high on bars with a 9.925. Her accomplishments at Auburn earned her SEC Co-Gymnast of the week, the first of its kind for a Gymback since Amanda Wellick was recognized with the honor in 2015.
The Gymbacks are looking to capitalize on another opportunity to compete on the road, with the chance to drop an earlier road score ahead of the NCAA Gymnastics Selection Show on March 22. On Monday, Arkansas will learn where it will be headed for the NCAA Regionals, set to take place April 1-3.
The entire SEC Gymnastic Championships will be aired live on the SEC Network. Session I (Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri) will begin at 2:30 p.m. and Session II will start promptly at 7 p.m. Fans looking for a continuous stream for certain apparatuses or the awards presentations should tune into SEC Network+.
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