Arizona gymnastics sophomore Miranda Russell was named the Pacific 10 Conference Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 26-March 3, commissioner Tom Hansen announced yesterday.

The award was the first of Russell’s career and came after her first all-around win of the season.

She set a career high in the all-around with a score of 39.400 and set or matched her career highs on every apparatus. She also jumped into fifth place in the Pac-10 in the all-around season standings.

“”It’s exciting,”” Russell said of receiving the award. “”I wasn’t expecting it at all.””

Russell’s award came two weeks after fellow Gymcat senior Karin Wurm was given the same honor.

“”It’s a great thing for her, she certainly deserved it,”” said UA head coach Bill Ryden. “”Certainly that performance was the best in her collegiate career, and to score that high in the all-around as a sophomore certainly bodes well for the rest of her career if things keep going in the right direction.””