University of Minnesota junior Carmelina Carabajal competed at the 2008 NCAA Championships today in Athens, Ga., on the campus of the University of Georgia. In her final competition of the 2008 season, she earned an all around score of 39.000 to place 14th in her session. She was the top scorer in the all around among individual competitors, and was the top all around competitor among gymnasts from the Big Ten Conference.

Carabajal’s best performance was on beam, where she earned a 9.800 to tie for 11th place. She earned a 9.775 on floor in the fourth rotation to tie for 31st in the event. Carabajal tallied a 9.750 on bars, her first event, coming in tied for 37th place. Carabajal competed on vault in the final rotation, and earned a 9.675 to place 34th.

“We expected Carmelina to be a fabulous representative of not only Minnesota, but the Big Ten Conference, and she was all we hoped she would be,” said co-head coach Meg Stephenson. “We are so proud of her, and so happy that she was able to have this experience competing on the national stage.”

Carabajal rotated with the University of Florida, the top team in the afternoon session today. Florida earned a 196.900, while Alabama was second with a 196.650, and LSU was third with a 196.575. The top three teams have advanced to the Super Six team finals tomorrow.