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ALERT

Weather Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM CDT FRIDAY...

The following statement was issued by the Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality.

An Air Quality Alert for Ozone has been issued for Friday, August 28
for the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area due to expected high
concentrations of ozone.

Public Health Recommendations: Persons with existing heart or
respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor
activity.

The general public is encouraged to help alleviate the problem by
reducing vehicle miles traveled by riding the bus, carpooling, or
avoiding unnecessary trips. The public is also asked to avoid
refueling during the morning and early afternoon hours, and to avoid
the use of two cycle engines such as lawn mowers, motorcycles, weed
trimmers, and outboard engines. It is also advised to limit outdoor
burning.

To view the latest air quality map, visit airnow.gov or the AirNow
app.

For hourly updates on concentrations and possible health warnings,
telephone the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality at
405-702-4100. For more information on health effects, call the
American Lung Association of Oklahoma at 405-748-4674

Oklahoma women's gymnastics: Sooners' big win capped off by an emotional senior ceremony

Senior AJ Jackson floor pose

Senior AJ Jackson performs her floor routine Feb. 23

It was senior night for the Sooners Friday evening, and they were ready to send their seniors off with a bang. They started off with a whole lot of pyrotechnics, a loud crowd and maybe a tear or two. In the end of this highly anticipated quad-meet against No. 10 Arkansas, No. 12 Arizona State and No. 15 Denver, the Sooners pulled out yet another win.

With the Sooners coming out and scoring a 9.8 and over on vault, it was a good start to this chaotic quad meet where action seekers could find what they needed in every direction. Senior AJ Jackson put up a 9.925 in her last vault at home to give the Sooners the lead heading into uneven parallel bars.

After one rotation the Sooners led with a score of 49.525 closely followed by Arkansas (49.175) and ASU (48.975). Denver fell into a close fourth with a score of 48.925. 

On uneven parallel bars, the Sooners were able to achieve a season high 49.625 led by Jackson with a 9.9 and Stefani Catour with a 9.925. Nicole Lehrmann was also able to score a 9.95 tying her season high on the event and increasing the Sooners lead.

Heading to beam, the Sooners led 99.150 ahead of Denver (98.150), Arizona State (97.975) and the Razorbacks in fourth with 97.625 after they experienced some struggles on beam.

In the Sooners' best event, it wasn't the season's best, but nonetheless the Sooners scored 49.450 behind Catour and senior Natalie Brown receiving scores of 9.850. Anchoring on beam, sophomore Maggie Nichols was able to put up a 9.975, lifting the crowd to its feet.

With only floor left, the Sooners led 148.525 in front of Denver (147.125), who came back from fourth, ASU (146.875) and the Razorbacks (146.675).

Success honored the Sooners throughout the final moments of the night with the seniors stealing the show as Jackson scored a 9.950 in her final performance of her final home meet with the Sooners. 

The Sooners were able to pull off another big win in their final home meet with a score of 198.100 led by Jackson, who won gymnast of the meet.

Seniors from all four teams were honored in a final ceremony. Tears were shed, flowers were given and fans and teammates rejoiced in the careers of Jackson, Catour, Brown, and Samantha Craus as they stepped out of Lloyd Noble Center for the last time as Sooner gymnasts.

In a final speech Friday evening, coach KJ Kindler had remarkable things to say on the gymnastics careers of each senior defining Samantha as "the team's ignition as she suffered through countless injuries." 

Jackson was described as "a crowd favorite and the woman who outlawed using chalk on floor routines." Jackson replied, "Going to OU is the best decision I have ever made."

If you ask Kindler about her favorite moment of Catour's, she'll say "it was in her performance at UCLA where she showed out in the final performance that Catour's grandmother was able to attend."

Brown was described as "a walk-on who worked hard to earn a full ride scholarship." In Brown's words, "even without a scholarship, I would do it because it's what I love."

This isn't the end for these seniors, though, as they have road meets, the Big 12 championship, and Nationals left on their final road. Next up, the Sooners will face Alabama on the road Friday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT. 

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