SALT LAKE CITY - Senior Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas) qualified for the NCAA National Championships as No. 22 Denver recorded a season-high 196.175 to finish in third place at the 2010 NCAA Regional Championships in front of a crowd of 6,141 at Utah's Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday night.
Hennigan finished with a 39.300 as the top all-around competitor not on a qualifying team and will be making her second appearance as an individual at Nationals. Sophomore Brianna Artemev (Arvada, Colo.) recorded a 39.200 in the all-around to finish in a tie with Auburn's Kylie Shields as the second-highest individual all-arounder. Because of the tie, the individual national qualifier is yet to be determined.
"I could not be more proud of this team," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "This was one of the toughest regionals in the country and we were able to go out there and compete with excellence."
No. 4 Florida finished in first place with a 197.675, while No. 10 Utah recorded a 196.900 to finish second. Both schools earn a berth to the NCAA National Championships held at Florida on April 22-24.
The Pioneers opened the meet with a 48.775 on beam, with seniors Lauren Garan (Cos Cob, Conn.) and Hennigan posting scores of 9.800. After a bye during the second rotation, Denver posted a season-high 49.200 on floor to move into third place with an overall score of 97.975. Sophomore Louise Mercer (Nottingham, England) tied her career mark with a 9.875. Junior Kristina Coccia (Bethlehem, Pa.) also recorded a 9.875 as Denver did not count a score lower than 9.800.
In the fourth rotation, Denver posted a 49.075 on vault, the team's second highest vault score of the season. Artemev and freshman Simona Castro Lazo (Santiago, Chile) each recorded a 9.850, a career-high for Castro Lazo, as the Pioneers moved into second place with an overall score of 147.050.
After a fifth round bye, DU wrapped up the meet on bars, posting a season-high 49.125. Hennigan, junior Annamari Maaranen (Tampere, Finland) and Mercer each recorded a 9.875 to finish in fifth place on the event. Maaranen and Mercer each set career-highs, while Hennigan tied her career mark on bars.
"To post the highest score of the year and to not count a fall, they had a phenomenal performance tonight," Kutcher-Rinehart said. "They have improved so much upon last year's regional finish and I think they learned a lot tonight that they will be able to take into next season."
No. 19 Boise State finished in fourth place with a 195.950, while No. 23 Washington placed fourth with a final score of 195.075. No. 16 Auburn rounded out the field with a 194.925.
The Pioneers will return nine student-athletes in 2011. Saturday's meet marked the final competition for seniors Garan, Hennigan and Ellen McCarthy (Aurora, Ontario).
