April 14, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
California junior Tim McNeill won the national title on pommel horse and parallel bars Saturday night in the individual event finals of the NCAA Championships, hosted by Penn State. McNeill recorded scores of 9.725 on parallel bars and 9.650 on pommel horse to win the respective championships.
"I'm still letting it all sinking in," McNeill said. "I'm really excited. This is great. It was a good feeling to know when I landed my dismounts that I had done the best I could. I worked hard and I'm glad it paid off."
McNeill is the second Golden Bear to win two NCAA titles in the same year. Graham Ackerman was the first to accomplish the feat in 2004 (floor exercise and vault). McNeill's title on pommel horse was a successful defense of the championship that he won in 2006 on that apparatus. McNeill becomes the fifth Cal gymnast to repeat as national champion on a particular event.
The two national titles mark the ninth and 10th NCAA titles that Cal has won during the 2006-07 season.
Competing in the middle of the lineup on pommel horse, McNeill said he was nervous because there were still some very good gymnasts who could have beaten him.
It wasn't the same case on parallel bars. Being the second to last to perform, he had a better feeling after that event.
"When I landed the dismount on parallel bars I had a smile on my face because I knew I had won it," McNeill said.
McNeill wasn't the only Bear to end the NCAA Championships on a high note. Colin Christ and Kyson Bunthuwong both turned in strong performances as well on the final day of the season.
On parallel bars, Christ earned All-America honors for his third-place finish with a career-best score of 9.475. Also competing on high bar, Christ tied for second, tallying a 9.375 in that event.
Bunthuwong's score of 9.000 was good enough for eighth, and more importantly, earned him All-America honors as well.
The individual event finals wrapped up the season for Cal. The Bears, who just fell short of qualifying for the team final, leave the national championships with two titles in hand.
