Coming off a loss to Alabama, No. 7 Missouri welcomed No. 2 LSU to Mizzou Arena on Friday. LSU narrowly won the meet, 197.675-197.500, but Missouri posted its highest team score of the season.
Railey Jackson performs a split leap during her beam routine Friday, at Mizzou Arena. Jackson scored a 9.850 on the beam rotation.
Coach Shannon Welker was pleased with the performance.
“We also have a young team. I think about half of our lineup spots are sophomores and below, and they’re getting better every weekend, as is our score,” Welker said. “I was really proud of that aspect.”
Missouri opened the meet strong on vault. Sophomore Railey Jackson notched a career-high 9.950 after sticking her Yurchenko 1½. Sophomore Kaia Tanskanen tied her career high with a 9.850, and junior Hannah Horton anchored the rotation with a 9.875. Missouri totaled 49.275, its second-highest vault score of the season.
Railey Jackson poses after sticking her vault routine Friday at Mizzou Arena. Jackson led the Tigers this rotation with a score of 9.950.
The Tigers carried that momentum to bars, opening the rotation with three 9.825 scores. Horton highlighted the event with a dynamic routine capped by a stuck dismount, tying her career-high 9.950. Freshman Kimarra Echols followed with a stuck dismount of her own to earn a 9.925. Missouri posted a bars total of 49.350.
LSU responded on vault in the second rotation, earning a 49.425, highlighted by a 9.950 from sophomore Kailin Chio.
Missouri energized the crowd on beam. Graduate Amy Wier earned a 9.875 in the leadoff spot, while graduate Lauren Macpherson tied her career high with a 9.950. The Tigers’ momentum slowed in the middle of the rotation when graduate Grace Anne Davis scored a 9.675 after a few wobbles. Sophomore Olivia Kelly followed with a steady routine, but earned a 9.775 after receiving split scores of 9.85 and 9.70 from the judges.
Hannah Horton performs her bar routine during Mizzou’s meet against LSU on Friday at Mizzou Arena. No. 7 Mizzou lost to No. 2 LSU with a final score of 197.500 to 197.675.
The split scores drew frustration from Welker.
“I think that can be a little bit of a frustrating thing. There’s definitely a subjective side, maybe more so in this sport than there are in others,” Welker said. “That definitely can kind of be maddening at times.”
Jackson followed with a 9.850, and senior Addison Lawrence closed the rotation with a near-flawless routine capped by a stuck dismount, earning her fourth 9.950 of the season.
“She’s (Lawrence) a stud,” Welker said.
LSU finished strong on floor with a 49.550, again highlighted by a 9.950 from Chio.
From left, Mizzou gymnasts Hannah Horton, Kennedy Griffin, and Kimarra Echols prepare for the floor rotation against LSU on Friday at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou left with a total score of 197.500, a season-best.
Missouri closed the meet on floor. Jackson earned a season-best 9.900 after two strong tumbling passes, and Tanskanen followed with a 9.900. Junior Kennedy Griffin posted a 9.925, and Horton anchored the rotation with a 9.925. Missouri totaled 49.475 on floor.
Missouri will next face No. 3 Florida at 8 p.m. Friday at Mizzou Arena.
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