The Alabama Gymnastics Team, on the strength of a trio of high scoring meets to open the season, has vaulted to the No. 1 spot in the national rankings.

The Crimson Tide holds a 197.150 season average, more than a quarter of a point better than No. 2 Georgia. Utah comes in at No. 3 while Alabama's next opponent, the Florida Gators, are No. 4. Iowa State is No. 5, while last season's national champions, UCLA comes in at No. 6.

Alabama, who finished last season as the NCAA Champion Runner-up, was last ranked No. 1 last season during the first week of February.

Friday's meet against the Gators, Alabama's third home meet of the year, will pit the best against the best in the meet's last rotation as Tide leads the nation on the floor exercise while Florida is No. 1 on the balance beam. Alabama is ranked second on the vault, fifth on the balance beam and sixth on the uneven bars.

Individually, sophomore Ashley Miles, the defending NCAA vault champion, is ranked No. 1 on that event with an average score of 9.9625 and a high of 9.975. Miles is also fifth on the floor exercise.

Senior Jeana Rice is ranked third on the vault, fourth on the uneven bars, 13th on the floor exercise and 23rd in the all-around. Junior Alexis Brion is eighth on the vault and 20th on the floor exercise while freshman Brittany Comeaux is 11th on the uneven bars.

Alabama and Florida compete Friday (Jan. 30) at 7:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office

Women's National Gymnastics Ranking

26 January 2004 - by Total Season Average