Air Force to Host MPSF Women's Gymnastics Championships
3/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 17, 2011
The Air Force women's gymnastics team opens the 2011 championship season on Saturday, March 19, when it hosts the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Gymnastics Championships at 6 p.m. The Falcons will welcome league foes Alaska-Anchorage, Seattle Pacific and UC Davis to the Cadet West Gymnasium.
Meet Notes 11: MPSF Championships 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the 2011 MPSF Championship are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. They may be purchased at the door of Cadet West Gym on Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE MEET...
A live webcast of the MPSF Championships will be available on GoAirForceFalcons.com. Please click the "watch" link located on the calendar to access the live web feed.
AIR FORCE VS. MPSF OPPONENTS IN 2011
Air Force has faced two of its conference opponents this season. The Falcons are 2-1 against Seattle Pacific, 0-1 against UC Davis and have not face Alaska-Anchorage yet this season. Air Force took both dual titles (191.475-190.425 at USAFA, 188.475-188.275 at SPU), before finishing behind Seattle Pacific at the Washington Triangular (189.175-190.050). In its only meeting this season, Air Force fell to UC Davis, 192.100-188.950.
MPSF STANDINGS
UC Davis currently leads the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a regional qualifying score of 193.030, while Air Force is ranked second with a RQS of 190.700. Seattle Pacific (190.285) and Alaska-Anchorage (190.010) are ranked third and fourth, respectively. UC Davis paces the conference in every event, while holding the three highest individual regional qualifying marks on both the uneven bars and floor exercise.
CONFERENCE ROUNDUP
Air Force is currently ranked second in the conference with a regional qualifying score of 190.700. Individually, Linnaea Hance is ranked second on the balance beam (9.680), while Brittany Dutton is holds the same placement in the all-around (38.130). Dutton is also ranked fourth on the uneven bars (9.695), fifth on the floor exercise (9.725) and sixth on the vault (9.665), while Hance is ranked fourth in the all-around (37.685). Lisa Wong and Jessica Hanner are ranked fourth (9.630) and sixth (9.600), respectively, on the balance beam, while Samantha Jones is ranked fourth on the vault (9.675)
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
Nearly one year after the Falcons tallied the highest team score of Doug Day's tenure, Air Force equaled that mark against the same opponent. On March 22, 2010, the Falcons crossed the 193-point mark (193.300) for the first time against Denver. On that March 14, 2011, Air Force once again matched that mark against the Pioneers. The total remains the best mark since 2004.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
With a combined score of 193.300, Air Force matched its highest team total in seven years during the regular season finale against Denver on March 14. In addition to posting its highest team score of the season, the Falcons also collected season-best marks on the balance beam and floor exercise.
LEADING THE SQUAD
Brittany Dutton was the Falcons' top finisher on the uneven bars and floor exercise with matching scores of 9.775. The team captain finished third on the bars and fourth on the floor exercise. Tara Harris posted a personal-best 9.725 on the vault to lead Air Force with a fifth-place finish, while Linnaea Hance and Lisa Wong tied for the team-lead on the balance beam with career-best matching marks of 9.750.
FALCONS TAKE THIRD AT WASHINGTON
Air Force scored a 189.175 to place third in a tri-meet against 15th-ranked Washington and Seattle Pacific on March 11. Jen Larsen (vault, uneven bars), Linnaea Hance (balance beam) and Samantha Jones (floor exercise) paced the Falcons.
LARSEN SHINES AT WASHINGTON MEET
Jen Larsen led the team on the vault (9.725, fifth) and uneven bars (9.575, 11th), while competing in the all-around (37.725) for the first time this season. Her vault score was the second highest of the season by an Air Force gymnast. The freshman also recorded a top-10 finish on floor exercise, as she scored a 9.625 to place 10th.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
The NCAA will release its field of competitors for the 2011 NCAA Regional championship within the next week. The regional meet is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, in Denver, Colo.
Players Mentioned
