Trio In Contention At USA Gymnastics Championships

NORMAN, Okla. A trio of Sooners are in contention at the USA Gymnastics Championships in Milwaukee, Wis., after posting solid scores during the Individual Event Finals on Friday evening. Oklahoma mens gymnastics assistant coach Guard Young is in fourth place in the all-around, while NCAA All-Around Champion Daniel Furney is 17th and senior Heath Mueller is in 24th.

Young, who hit on all six of his events, started off the competition with a 9.4 on floor exercise, which landed him the fourth best score on the event. Young was the runner up on parallel bars with a world class score of 9.625. The 2002 National Team member used a 9.425 on pommel horse to garner a sixth place finish and snag his third medal of the night. Young also posted solid scores of 9.325 and 9.4 on still rings and vault, respectively. Young enters Sundays All-Around Finals in fourth place with an all-around score of 55.725, just 0.05 behind third place finisher Blaine Wilson.

Two-time NCAA Champion Daniel Furney hit on four of six events, highlighted by a 9.075 and sixth place finish on high bar, as well as a 9.225 and sixth place finish on parallel bars. Furney also scored well on still rings (9.025) and vault (8.850). The Sooner All-American sits within striking distance of the top 14, which is the cut number for the USA National Team.

At stake for the Sooner trio is roster spots on the USA National Team (14 members), World Championships Team (eight), Pan American Games Team (six) and World University Games Team (five).

"Daniels NCAA All-Around Championship is an accomplishment that will greatly increase his chances of making one of the four squads," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams, who is now Furneys personal coach since he exhausted his collegiate eligibility. "I would expect that hell get named to the World University Games Team."

Mueller, like Young, hit on all six of his events for an all-around score of 52.325 and 24th place finish. Mueller was consistent throughout with a high score of 9.05 on vault and an 8.85 on parallel bars.

Friday evenings scores count for 50 percent, along with Sundays performances, of the determining number for the USA All-Around Champion.

The All-Around Finals get under way at 2 p.m. Sunday and will be aired on NBC Aug, 2 from 3:30-5 p.m.

Photo of Guard Young Courtesy of USA-Gymnastics.org.