PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Sophomore Hannah Joyner made history on Friday evening by becoming the third Rutgers gymnast to compete as an individual at NCAA Championships. Joyner, the school record holder on beam, competed on the event during Semifinal II of Nationals live on ESPN2.
 
"Hannah accomplished so much this year.  She wanted so badly to show her best routine today," said Head Coach Umme Salim-Beasley. "Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't what she expected.  It doesn't take away from the fact that she qualified as an individual to the NCAA Championships, which is extremely hard to do.  Now she knows that she can get to the highest level of our sport.  She is determined to get back there and prove what she knows she can do.  We couldn't be more proud of the year she has had.  She is on a mission!  I can't wait to see where she takes this program in the years to come!"

At the Morgantown Regional, Joyner finished second overall with a 9.925 to advance to the highest stage in the event. As the first Scarlet Knight to post above a 9.9 at an NCAA Regional, Joyner qualified as the highest individual finisher not on an advancing team.
 
The Waldorf, Maryland, native eclipsed 9.9 on beam six times this year and 13 times in her career, standing as RU's record holder in total career 9.9s. The two-time First Team All-Big Ten Selection also reached 9.9 at the Big Ten Championships last month, placing third in the event to help lift her to a third-place finish in the all-around.
 
Joyner became the third individual qualifier to advance to Nationals in Rutgers gymnastics history. She joined former Scarlet Knights and Rutgers Athletics Hall of Famer's Courtney Turner (floor) and Alexis Gunzleman (all-around) to qualify for Nationals. The sophomore continues to make history, as she also became the first Scarlet Knight to have reached 9.9 on all events. She holds career bests of 9.950 on beam, 9.900 on bars, beam and floor, and 39.450 in all-around.

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