Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK’s Miranda Lund closes out career with stellar showing at states
Miranda Lund of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, right, gets a congratulatory hug from Gillian Murphy of Massapequa after her performance on the uneven bars in the NYSPHSAA gymnastics state championship meet at Cold Spring Harbor on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Credit: James Escher
In the final rotation of the state gymnastics championship held at Cold Spring Harbor Saturday, Miranda Lund, from Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, knew what she needed to accomplish on the uneven bars.
Whatever happened, Lund’s achievements throughout high school already assured her place as one of the top gymnasts in Nassau County.
She did her routine, moved a little bit on her double back dismount and hugged her coach for the last time as a varsity gymnast.
Lund wound up standing on the podium for all the events and placing second in the all-around with a score of 38.150, a mere .075 points away from first-place winner Madison Penetrante from Section VI.
“It feels good to go out on a high note,” Lund said. “I’m going to miss it so much. The camaraderie of the team, competing with all the girls, cheering everyone on, it’s one big family. I love varsity.”
Lund’s high notes included placing first on beam (9.65), tying for third on vault (9.55) and placing fourth on bars (9.35) and floor exercise (9.6).
Lund was the only Nassau competitor who didn’t receive point deductions for falling off the beam. And while she knew what score she needed to beat on bars, Lund still wasn’t feeling the pressure.
“Knowing doesn’t make it any easier,” Lund said. “I knew what I needed but I wouldn’t change anything. That was the best bar routine I could’ve done.”
The Suffolk competitors wouldn’t do anything different either because they placed third, for the second year in a row, scoring a 179.775.
“I’m really proud of our team and I’m happy that we pulled through again this year,” said Haylie Kelly, from Babylon. “We all did the best we could in every area.”
Bella Kelly, her twin sister continued, “We all cheered each other on and this was a great experience.”
Leading Suffolk on the podium was Nicole Jackson from Half Hollow Hills who placed first on vault scoring a 9.75. Jackson was .05 points away from breaking a vaulting record. She placed eighth in all-around scoring with a 36.65 and 10th on bars with a 9.05.
Grace Glennon also stood on the podium for vault, performing a difficult tsuk layout and tying for fourth place with a score of 9.4.
“This was my first time doing a layout tsuk for my first vault and I really didn’t think I was going to do well,” Glennon said. “This was a great outcome. I’m very pleased and blessed to have this opportunity.”
Other Section XI gymnasts who stepped onto the podium were Cassie Bergin from East Islip placing third on beam (9.55) and Kerin Spadaro from Bay Shore / Islip placing fifth on bars (9.3)
Lund lead the Section VIII team to a fourth-place finish scoring a 177.9. Joanna Signorile from Carle Place placed ninth on bars scoring a 9.1. Gillian Murphy from Massapequa placed 11th on vault (9.025) and 12th on floor (9.175).
