Final meet is memorable for Pine Creek senior gymnast

THORNTON • Hannah Brown knew that this weekend’s state high school meet would be her final gymnastics competition.

The Pine Creek senior, who will attend Christopher Newport University next year as a cheerleader, finished her career with enthusiasm Saturday night after placing third in floor exercise and sixth on the uneven bars in Class 5A.

“It was amazing for me to look up after my floor routine and see the head judge giving me that 9.7 score,” Brown said. “I have known her my whole life, and she’s watched me progress since I was little.”

After finishing third in floor and fifth on the uneven bars as a junior, Brown’s expectations for her final year were high. But as the season progressed, trouble with her left knee became more persistent.

Brown, who has had six knee surgeries since the age of 9, will have more reconstruction performed next week.

“I just knew this was going to be my last meet and just the energy at the state level kind of got me through,” she said. “They’re going to put some more screws in next week, so hopefully that will help with cheerleading.”

Rampart’s Brooke Johnson placed 13th in the 5A vault competition after qualifying in the preliminary round. Johnson was 16th in 2008 on the vault.

Senior Michelle Tharpe of Fort Collins won the 5A beam and floor competitions and tied for first on the uneven bars. Tharpe also won Friday night’s 5A all-around competition.

At the 4A level, all-around champion Katie Cordova of Elizabeth won the beam and bars competitions and placed second in the floor exercise.

No gymnasts from Palmer Ridge or Canon City advanced to the 4A finals.