University of Minnesota Athletics
KELLEY NAMED BIG TEN GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
1/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Kelley tied for first place in the all around Saturday against No. 4 Utah with a total of 39.200. After missing the bars competition in Minnesota's first meet of the season, she recorded a 9.80 against Utah. Kelley continued to post strong numbers throughout the meet, scoring a 9.85 on the floor exercise for the second straight week and scoring a 9.825 on the balance beam.
Kelley received the honor last season after winning the all around at Iowa with a 39.175 on Feb. 6. She has competed in the all around in 29 of her 30 career meets and earned All-Big Ten honors in the all around last season by placing third at the Big Ten Championships with a career-high 39.175. That mark is the second-best in school history.
Last season, Kelley tied the school record for floor exercise, scoring a 9.95 against Iowa State on March 18. She ranks among the top five performers in school history for all around, floor exercise, uneven bars (second) and balance beam (third).
Minnesota competes in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday, taking on defending Big Ten champion Michigan and conference rival Iowa in a triangular meet. The Golden Gophers are the top-ranked Big Ten school this week, with a No. 9 ranking. Michigan is listed at No. 11, while Ohio State is No. 15 and Penn State is No. 16. Iowa is the fifth Big Ten school in the top 25, listed at No. 21. For the first two weeks of the season, the ranking is based on a school's highest score of the season.
Minnesota's highest score of the season is 194.850, set last weekend against Utah. The Golden Gophers improved their team mark from a season-opening 194.275, set against Ohio State on Jan. 6.
