George Washington University Athletics
Delima, Simpson Qualify For NCAA Southeast Regional Competition
3/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 31, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - The NCAA Gymnastics Committee announced Monday that George Washington University gymnasts Leslie Delima (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem H.S.) and Kristen Simpson (Myrtle Beach, SC/Socastee H.S.) will compete in the 2008 NCAA Regional Championships, hosted by the third-ranked University of Florida on Saturday, April 12. Start time is set for 7:00 pm in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
This marks the first time that either Delima or Simpson have qualified for NCAA Regional competition. Delima will compete in the all-around, while Simpson will compete in the vault. Senior McKenzie Parrack is also an alternate on floor exercise.
The six teams that qualified for the team title were the host Florida Gators, No. 9 UCLA, No. 15 Nebraska, and three of GW's East Atlantic Gymnastics League rivals, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 25 West Virginia and No. 34 North Carolina. Additionally, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual specialist per event advance to the Regional competition.
Delima was a first-team All-EAGL selection on the floor exercise, the apparatus she will begin her rotations on, and a second-team slection in the all-around. Delima hold season-high marks of 9.750 on vault, 9.725 on bars, 9.850 on beam, 9.825 on floor, and 38.950 on all-around. The rookie competed in all 12 meets on all four-events this season. The only full-time all-arounder for the Colonials this season holds Regional Qualifying Scores (RQS) of 9.66 on vault, 9.685 on bars, 9.66 on beam, 9.78 on floor and 38.530 in all-around. She ranks 20th in the Southeast Region in the all-around.
Simpson was named first-team ALL EAGL on vault, the only event the specialist will compete in at NCAA Regionals. The junior holds an RQS of 9.835 on vault, which ranks her 15th in the region. On Feb. 24 against Pittsburgh, Simpson recorded a career-high 9.950 on vault, which tied tied her for the all-time best performance by a GW gymnast on the event. At the time, it was the highest score on any event by an EAGL gymnast until the confeence championships last weekend. Simpson performed in all 12 meets on vault and never recorded below a 9.725. She posted a 9.800 or better in exactly half of GW's meet this season.
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each region site advances to the NCAA Championships, set for April 24-26 in Athens, GA.
