Dalton, USA to Compete in Barcelona
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Oklahoma sophomore Jacob Dalton will compete as a member of the Men’s Gymnastics Team on June 5 at the Memorial Blume at the Olympic area of Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain.
The Memorial Blume – Barcelona is the oldest and most prestigious competition in Spanish gymnastics. Male gymnasts from Greece, the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine and host Spain are the countries that will square off in the men’s team and all-around competition.
Dalton replaces the University of Illinois’ Tyler Mizoguchi of Houston, who withdrew due to an injury, will travel to Barcelona with Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams.
The Reno, Nev., native will compete in the all-around but will look to place in the top-three on his strongest events, floor and vault. Dalton was named an All-American on floor and vault during the 2010 season in his first season as a Sooner.
“It’s in the summer, so it feels different than the season because not as many people are training in the gym,” says OU sophomore Jacob Dalton. “I took at little break this summer so my body is rested. I am just trying to keep in routine shape and go there and do the best I can.”
The OU men’s gymnastics team has not been without success this off-season sending two other gymnasts around the world to compete for the U.S. Senior National Team. OU senior Steven Legendre claimed a bronze medal at the 2010 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia and sophomore Alex Naddour earned a silver medal at the 2010 World Stars in Moscow, Russia.
“The international competition helps you throughout the summer because you are not just keeping up on your skills but with your routines and endurance,” added Dalton. “That is something big for me because when you do start on your routine for the college season, you are not tired.”
Oklahoma has five gymnasts on the U.S. National Team with Legendre, Naddour, Dalton and former OU gymnasts Jonathan Horton and Chris Brooks on the squad.
No other Division I men’s gymnastics program has more members on Senior National Team than Oklahoma. This is most National Team members that the Sooners have ever had, beating the previous total in 1994 (4).
Updated 06-02-2010
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