Alabama Gymnastics Takes Second at 2016 SEC Championships

The Alabama gymnastics posted a season-best 197.750 to take second at the 2016 Southeastern Conference Championships, just .025 behind the Florida Gators. Its marks the ninth year in a row that Alabama has finished either first or second in the conference.

Florida posted a 197.775 after their last gymnasts went 9.875 to slip past the Crimson Tide. LSU was third (197.500) while Auburn was fourth (196.975). Georgia took fifth (196.850), Arkansas sixth (196.500), Kentucky seventh (196.250) and Missouri eighth (195.750).

Alabama opened on the balance beam with a 49.275, led by junior Keely McNeer’s 9.9 from the leadoff spot. The Tide then tied its season best of 49.5 on the floor exercise, with sophomore Kiana Winston’s runner-up 9.95.

On the vault, led by sophomore Mackenzie Brannan’s winning 9.95, Alabama posted a season-best 49.425. The Tide closed with a huge 49.550, the best uneven bars score of the night, behind winning 9.95s from Winston and junior Katie Bailey.

In addition to individual SEC titles from Brannan (vault), Winston (uneven bars) and Bailey (uneven bars), Brannan took third in the all-around with a career-best 39.575.

Alabama, the host of one of six 2016 NCAA Regionals, will find out which teams will join them in Tuscaloosa on Monday, March 21 when the NCAA sets the brackets.