Three Sooners on USA World Team

Sept. 13, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma Sooners will represent half of the USA men's gymnastics' team that was finalized on Sunday and will compete at the 2009 World Championships on Oct. 13-19 in London, England.

Freshman Jake Dalton is the latest Sooner to represent his country on the international stage. He will join junior Steven Legendre and former Sooner and Olympic Medalist Jonathon Horton. Legendre and Horton were named to the team following the 2009 Visa Championships.

“We are thrilled to have Jake join Jon and Steve on the team,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “It's pretty impressive feat to have one, let alone three, of our guys make the team that will represent Team USA.”

Dalton, a native of Sparks, Nev., earned his spot after performances at the recent training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

“Three Sooners representing the USA at the 2009 World Championships is a testament to the commitment made to excellence at OU,” added Williams. “The coaches, guys and everyone in the program have worked hard to get to this point and that is what Oklahoma gymnastics is all about.”

At this year's Visa Championships, Horton won the all-around, finishing first on rings and high bar, while Legendre finished seventh in the all-around with the floor title. Dalton finished tied for 14th and posted a score of 32.700 to tally the highest score on vault in the second day.

While Horton's success with Team USA is well known, Legendre has enjoyed success over the past year as well. A five-time individual NCAA national champion, Legendre competed with some of the worlds best at the 2009 Japan Cup and placed third on vault.

The complete team is comprised of: 2008 Olympic silver-medalist Jonathan Horton of Houston, Texas/Cypress Gymnastics; Steven Legendre of Flower Mound, Texas/University of Oklahoma; Danell Leyva of Miami/Universal Gymnastics; Tim McNeill of Falls Church, Va./University of California – Berkeley; Dalton, who trains with Nevada Gymnastics; and Haagensen, who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The alternate is: Daniel Ribeiro of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./University of Illinois.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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