Jan. 15, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - UCLA's Anna Li has been named Pacific-10 Conference Gymnast of the Week for January 8-14, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. In addition, STANFORD's Carly Janiga has been named the inaugural recipient of the Pac-10 Event Specialist of the Week award.

Li, a sophomore from Aurora, Ill., won the all-around competition and three individual events - uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise - at the Lady Luck Invitational to lead UCLA to a first-place showing in the season opener. Her all-around mark of 39.45 was the highest by a UCLA gymnast in a season opener since 2005.

Li earned a 9.900 on the beam, tying for highest individual event score with just one other meet performer, and vaulted a 9.850 that helped the Bruins record the third-highest vault score in the nation so far this season. In the first national rankings of the season, Li stands at No. 3 on bars, No. 5 in the all-around, No. 13 on floor, and No. 16 on both beam and vault.

Janiga, a sophomore from Paradise Valley, Ariz., scored a 9.900 on beam, earning the meet's highest score on the apparatus against top-ranked Georgia. Her 9.825 on the uneven bars delivered a fourth place finish on the specialty. These solid performances helped keep the Cardinal within 0.725 points of the Bulldogs and remain No. 5 in the nation. Janiga is the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year from the 2007 season.

ALSO NOMINATED:
Gymnast of the Week: Alexis Greene, ARIZ; Tiana Jean, ASU; Jessica Kelley, CAL; Mandi Rodriguez, OSU; Allyse Ishino, STAN; Ashley Houghting, WASH.
Event Specialist of the Week: Karin Wurm, ARIZ; Ashlee Hinkle, ASU; Avery Gee, CAL; Kera Bolen, OSU; Natalie Padilla, UCLA; Haley Bogart, WASH.

2008 Pac-10 Gymnasts of the Week: Jan. 14 - Anna Li, UCLA.

2008 Pac-10 Event Specialists of the Week: Jan. 14 - Carly Janiga, STAN.