April 22, 2006
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Arizona State senior gymnast Ashley Kelly took third place in the individual finals of the uneven bars on Saturday night, the final night of competition at the 2006 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships.
The final competitor of the evening on the event, Kelly scored a 9.8375, finishing only .0125 behind Courtney Kupets of Georgia and Kristina Baskett of Utah, who both scored a 9.85 to tie for first place. A five-time All-American, Kelly earned the spot in the individual finals after finishing tied for second place with a 9.9 in the preliminary team session on Thursday night. As a sophomore in 2004, Kelly won the individual national title on the balance beam.
"Ashley Kelly was absolutely exceptional tonight, barely missing a national championship in the uneven bars," said ASU head coach John Spini. "She ended her career in a first class way, the same way she has always carried herself throughout her time at Arizona State."
As a team the Sun Devils concluded their 2006 season on Thursday night with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, their fourth top-10 finish in the last six years and the 19th top-10 finish in head coach John Spini's 26 years at Arizona State.