Horton Named to U.S. National Team

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. One day after finishing fifth in the all-around at the 2005 Visa U.S. Championships, University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton was named to the 2005-06 U.S. Men's Gymnastics Senior National Team Saturday morning. It will be Horton's second stint on the U.S. Senior National Team, having been a member of the 2004-05 team.

The sophomore from Houston, Texas entered Friday night's competition in 12th place after a disappointing score of 50.250 in Wednesday night's first round. Horton bounced back on Friday night and posted the night's second-highest score, 53.375. The score was just .25 points off eventual champion Todd Thornton's 54.000.

Horton also managed to place fifth on the floor exercise (two-day combined total of 17.750) and fifth on the vault (18.800).

“Jonathan performed like a true champion,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “He kind of rose from the dead in the second day of competition. On the first day, he competed with intentions of making the team that will compete at the World Championships. He had new routines that he wasn't fully prepared for.

“On Friday night, we made some adjustments and Jonathan hit all six routines and his score reflected that. I think Friday night's performance made the statement that he deserves to be on the U.S. National Team.”

As a member of the U.S. National Team, Horton will compete at the 2005 Pan-American Games on Oct. 7-9 and attend the World Championship team selection camp the following week. It will be Horton's second time to compete at the Pan-American Games. In 2003, he competed at the senior level of the Pan-Am Games in the Dominican Republic and tied for fourth in the all-around. Horton and the U.S. finished third as a team in the competition.

Horton continues to build an impressive resume in the sport of gymnastics. In addition to his accomplishments on the USA scene, Horton, in his first year as a Sooner, helped OU to the program's sixth NCAA Championship in 2005 and added a program best five All-America honors.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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