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COLUMBIA – Alicia Hatcher picked quite a night to have the best meet of her career.

Along with Missouri gymnasts Adrianne Perry and Liz Straatmann, Hatcher competed at home for the last time Friday night at Hearnes Center.

She tied career highs on the balance beam and floor, helping No. 13 Missouri upset No. 9 Oregon State 196.425-195.950.

Hatcher had about 12 family members at the meet. One of them was her dad, Ward Allen. On Thursday, Allen spent 26 hours flying from Doha, Qatar, to Kansas City to make it back for Hatchers final meet at Hearnes Center.

Allen, an aircraft fuel systems engineer, has been working in Qatar on and off for a year helping to build a $9 billion airport. He had to persuade his company to let him miss a few days.

“Ive always tried to get back and be there as much as I could, but Ive missed a lot of meets in her life,” said Allen, sounding a little disappointed. “So this being the final home meet, this is kind of a milestone for her. This is something well look back on 20 years from now.”

Allens job has taken him around the U.S. and the world, from New York to China to Guam. Growing up, Hatcher only saw Allen on weekends because Allen was no longer with Hatchers mom, Connie Serrano. Allen wasnt going to miss this meet.

“I think it was a huge deal for him,” Serrano said. “..Hes always made her a priority.”

Hatcher said Allen normally wears a Missouri hat and hoodie,Sevilla shirt, a pair of jeans and tennis shoes when he comes to meets. On Friday, Allen was decked out in a black shirt with a black-and-gold tie, a beige sport coat, grey dress pants and black shoes.

“He asked me when we were standing on the floor, hes like, Hows my tie look?” Hatcher said. “I was like, You look great dad. He knows hes not the best dresser. I always get him clothes for Christmas and things like that.”

Allen looked his best for the night, and he also made sure he was in the best position to soak in every second of Hatchers final home meet. He moved seats after each event to get as close as possible to Hatcher.

As Hatcher performed her career-high balance beam routine, Allen sat three rows up. He nodded his head after Hatcher successfully completed each part of her routine,Napoli shirt, mouthing “wow” in amazement of his daughters performance.

After Hatcher saw her score, a 9.9, she walked away from the beam with her mouth in her hands. She looked up to Allen,Dortmund shirt, who, with a big grin on his face, pumped his fist.

Junior Sarah Shire also had a lot to smile about. She won the all-around title for the ninth time this season, scoring a 39.475. Perry finished third in the all-around with a 39.250, winning on floor.

But it was hard to top Hatchers night. Hatchers stepdad, Jeff Serrano, performed the national anthem before the meet. Hatcher isnt as close with her stepdad as she is with her mom or dad, but he was happy for the opportunity to sing.

“It made it a lot more special,” Jeff Serrano said.

When Hatcher was growing up, her mom was single. Connie Serrano said she and Hatcher are best friends. But Hatcher has memories with Allen, too.

“He always jokes that anytime were with him,Bayern Munich shirt, I always have to have a lesson,” Hatcher said. “..Anytime that he has a chance to teach me something or to tell me something different that I might not know, he does. Hes one of the smartest people I know.”

Hatcher has always valued time with her dad.

“He always took me to parks and flower gardens and space museums and stuff that kinda just taught me the odd things that I wouldnt normally get to see,” Hatcher said. “He really tried to give me that extra little thing that I wouldnt normally have. The time that I always spent with him was a little more special because I knew that there wasnt a lot of it.”

Hatcher wont have much time with Allen this weekend, either. On Saturday, Allen will head to the airport and return to Qatar.

But on Friday, he was here for Hatchers memorable night.

“I do have a very special bond with my dad,” Hatcher said. “It showed tonight because hes here for me. Flying halfway around the world just to see me for three hours says so much.”