Postell claims beam title

Gymnasts are taught not to peek at the routines of others while they're still competing, but University of Utah junior Ashley Postell might start doing it more often now, at least during the individual event finals.

She admitted she did it, and it turned out to be fine because Postell finally won that personal NCAA title that has eluded her for more than two seasons. She finished second in the all-around the last two years, and she found herself a little too worn out in three individual events last year at Oregon State and didn't place highly.

Saturday night at the Huntsman Center on the final night of the 2007 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, the event finals, Postell was leading the floor exercise when it was time for her to go up on beam — the two events are run concurrently.

"I did peek on accident before beam, and I knew," she said, that Alabama's Morgan Dennis and Georgia's Courtney Kupets had hit scores on floor that were better than her 9.925, "but by that time, I was ready to beam, so it didn't really matter."

Postell tossed off a 9.9375 on her favorite event, the one she won in the 2002 World Championships, and then held her breath as the last few competitors walked the plank. "I was just on my toes waiting," she said.

When it was all over, Postell was the 2007 NCAA balance beam champion by .0375 point, a fairly large margin.

She would have liked both titles, but beam's her favorite, and "I'd rather have one than none," she said.

While Postell was readying to do beam, coach Greg Marsden was scurrying up the north tunnel. He never watches any Ute balance beam competitors in the postseason. Sometimes he sees regular-season meets, but his wife and associate head coach Megan Marsden sends him away. Beam is her event, and she's in charge.

"I didn't jinx that tonight," said Greg Marsden, who will have to watch the films to see just what Postell did that was so special.

It's the second straight year the Utes have taken home a national event title, as Kristina Baskett was co-winner on bars last year. Before her, it was Theresa Kulikowski on beam in 2001.

"It definitely is not the same as (worlds)," said Postell, "but it's nice to know that wherever I am, I can still be up there sometimes."

She learned from the fatigue she suffered last year and spent her time after Friday's team championships (Utah was second to Georgia) trying to get some rest, stay hydrated and to eat fruits and good things to keep up her strength for three more events. She was third on floor exercise with 9.925 and seventh on uneven bars.