University of North Carolina Athletics
Lane and Hislop Are Off to a Historic Start in 2017
January 31, 2017 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Through the first month of the 2017 gymnastics season, Morgan Lane and Khazia Hislop are off to extraordinary starts with scores that are highly ranked both nationally and in the conference.
In 2016, Lane became the first gymnast in program history to score a 39.000 or better in the all-around in every meet of the season. She has continued that streak in 2017, as she has scored above a 39.000 in all three meets with an average score of 39.183. Lane is currently tied for 36th in the nation in the all-around with UCLA's Madison Kocian, a U.S. Olympic Gold and Silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lane is also nationally ranked on the balance beam. She is ranked seventh in the country on the beam with an average score of 9.875. It is the first time a UNC gymnast has been ranked in the Top 10 since Christine Nguyen finished the season tied for ninth on the balance beam in 2008. It's the highest ranking by a Tar Heel since Courtney Bumpers was No. 1 on the floor exercise in 2006.
Through week three, the Columbus, Ind., native is dominating the competition in the EAGL, as she is ranked No. 1 on the balance beam and all-around and third on the floor exercise. She has been recognized as the EAGL Gymnast of the Week during the last two weeks of competition.
“I came into college hoping to compete, so being able to compete in all four events and be ranked is a really cool feeling. It's motivates me work even harder and see where else I can go,” said Lane.
As the 2017 season progresses, Lane hopes to advance to the NCAA National Championships in St. Louis, Mo., this April. She has competed in the all-around at the NCAA Regionals the last two seasons, but she hopes to advance to the nationals during her junior campaign.
“I'd really like to make it to the NCAA Nationals this year. It'd be even better as a team, but if it has to be individual that'd be really cool as well,” said Lane.
Khazia Hislop is a newcomer to the UNC gymnastics program, but she is already making a name for herself nationally and in the EAGL. So far, she has exclusively competed on the beam and floor and has set career bests on both. On Jan. 20, Hislop posted a 9.925 on the floor to take second place on the event against the third-ranked Florida Gators. The following Friday, she set another personal record, as she scored a 9.900 on the beam to earn a piece of the event title.
“It feels really good [to have set career bests on both events], but there is still so much room for improvement. I think I can be as good as I want to be and that makes me want to keep working hard,” said Hislop.
Hislop's average score of 9.867 on the floor is ranked No. 1 in the EAGL and tied for 29th in the nation with three other gymnasts. On the beam, Hislop has an average score of 9.742, which is tied for 12th in the conference with fellow Tar Heel Emma Marchese. Last week, her superb performance was recognized, as she was named the EAGL Rookie of the Week.
“I'm so excited and happy [to be so highly ranked in the EAGL on both events]. I wasn't expecting to be doing so well this early into my freshman season. We put in so much work in the preseason, and it means so much to me to be doing so well,” said Hislop.
As Hislop continues her freshman season, she hopes to keep up her rankings in the conference and nationally and advance to the NCAA National Championship on the floor exercise.
Lane and Hislop look to continue their stellar 2017 seasons on Friday, as the Tar Heels host Towson, William & Mary and Wisconsin – Whitewater for a Pink Meet in Carmichael Arena.
Players Mentioned
