Alina Liao ’09 tied a career best in the all-around with a score of 38.675 at the NCAA Regional Championships at University Park, Penn.

The event, hosted by Penn State University, took place over the weekend and featured some of the nation’s best gymnasts. Georgia’s Tiffany Tolnay won the all-around with a score of 39.675 and also led her team to a first-place finish overall with a team score of 197.775.

Denver finished second in the competition, with the Elis far behind, though with only one competitor representing the University, it was, for all intents and purposes, Liao’s individual show.

The junior from Saratoga, Calif., who has now qualified for the NCAA Regionals in all three of her years at Yale, did not disappoint. She tied her career high on the beam with a score of 9.825 to add to her scores of 9.5 on vault, 9.65 on bars and 9.7 on floor.

Liao’s 11th-place finish is an improvement on her finishes in previous years. She finished 15th as a freshman and 14th as a sophomore at the same event.

The Championships wrap up the gymnastics team’s season for 2007-2008. Liao will return for her senior season next year.

YALE DAILY NEWS