Jan. 26, 2010

 

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Big 12 Conference has named senior All-American Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) the Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for the second consecutive week. Shire has now won the weekly conference award nine times (the second most in Big 12 Conference history).

Shire helped Missouri (5-0) to a 196.400-196.000 win over Big 12 opponent No. 14 Iowa State last Friday, Jan. 22. She won the all-around (39.600), vault (9.875), beam (9.900) and floor titles (9.950), while tying for the bars (9.875) title. Her marks on floor and in the all-around set new career highs for the senior. The all-around title win marked the first of the season for Shire and the 14th of her career.

Shire currently ranks third in the country on beam and 13th in the all-around. She now holds sole possession of the second-highest individual all-around score in program history, close behind Alisha Robinson's record of 39.650 (set in 2004).

Missouri gymnasts have swept the Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honor all three weeks of the current season. Sophomore Mary Burke (Inverness, Ill.) won the first week, while Shire has taken the last two.

The No. 11 Tigers hit the road this weekend, Jan. 30, for another conference match-up against No. 9 Nebraska (4-0). The meet is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.