Suddenly Susan! Jackson Becomes LSU's First All-Around NCAA Champion

LSU senior Susan Jackson went out in style in what became her final team gymnastics meet as an LSU Tiger.  With her outstanding 39.650 score holding all day - and into the night - in Gainesville, Florida, Jackson became LSU's first-ever All-Around National Champion.  She also set a new LSU school record with 11 All-Around titles for the season, breaking a 30 year-old school record.

Ironically, it was a fall on balance beam that locked up the National Championship for Jackson when Missouri's Sarah Shire fell on the apparatus in the evening session and ended her chance to catch or better Jackson's score.  It was balance beam that ended LSU's chance to repeat as a Super Six finalist for the third consecutive year earlier in the day as the Tigers were forced to count a fall towards their team score.

Jackson's title marks the third year in a row that LSU has recorded some sort of individual National Championship.  Jackson won the vault title in 2008. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney won both the vault and floor titles in 2009.

Saturday evening Jackson will have a chance to add up to 3 more championships to her credit as she competes in the event finals on bars, beam, and vault.

Posted via web from LSU Gymnastics