Stephen and Harkness Qualify for NCAA Gymnastics Championships
4/3/2023 2:31:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State sophomore Gabrielle Stephen and junior Delanie Harkness have earned individual berths to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas on April 13, as announced by the NCAA Monday. Stephen will compete as an individual on beam and Harkness will compete on floor.Â
The qualification marks the first time the Spartans qualify multiple individuals to nationals since 1997. Both Stephen and Harkness will make their first trip to the NCAA Championships.Â
Stephen finished in a four-way tie for first place on beam in the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Second Round on March 31 with a 9.950 to secure her spot as the top individual on the event not on an advancing team. Harkness' 9.925 on floor was the best score of non-advancing team athletes on the event.Â
Stephen competed on beam in every meet for the Spartans this season, earning an 9.895 national qualifying score. She ranks seventh in the Big Ten and in a tie for 51st nationally on the event. Her 9.950 in the regional second round was her highest score of the season on beam and tied her career high set in 2022, and also sits in a tie for second all-time at MSU. The Elgin, Illinois native has earned four event titles on beam this season. Stephen was named First-Team All-Big Ten this season, marking her second-straight year receiving the honor.Â
Harkness ranks 13th in the Big Ten and ties for 51st nationally on floor with an NQS of 9.910, collecting two titles on the event this season. She appeared in the Spartans' floor lineup in every meet this season, posting seven scores of 9.900 or higher and earning a career-high 9.950 on two occasions. Her 9.950s sit in a tie for second-all time at MSU. A native of Leslie, Michigan, Harkness was named First-Team All-Big Ten this season and was named to the Big Ten All-Championships Team at the Big Ten Championships after winning the bars title, the first for MSU since 1996.Â
Stephen and Harkness are the 13th and 14th Spartan individuals to advance to the NCAA Championships. MSU has now advanced individuals to the national championships in consecutive years for the first time since 2007-08. The Spartans have also qualified an individual on beam for the second year in a row after current sophomore Skyla Schulte earned an individual spot in 2022. Â
Individual athletes at the NCAA Championships will compete in the semifinal round on April 13 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Harkness and Stephen will compete in Session I (3 p.m. ET). Streaming and live results links will be available at MSUSpartans.com.
Players Mentioned
