Jan. 4, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Greg Ferrucci and senior Lisa Faulkner led the University of Kentucky to a sixth- and seventh-place finish in the men’s three-meter championship and women’s one-meter championship, respectively, during day two of the Tennessee Diving Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday.
Ferrucci earned a score of 355.55 in the men’s three-meter championship to earn a sixth-place finish, and Faulkner scored a 262.50 in the women’s one-meter championship to finish in seventh place.
More than 120 divers from 16 different schools are competing at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center this week in the invitational.
The men’s three-meter championship preliminary/quarterfinal round had 50 entrants, including Ferrucci and fellow freshman Zack Peterson.
In the prelims Ferrucci placed ninth with a score of 334.60. Peterson earned a score of 256.45, which put him in 27th.
The finals then followed with the top 12 divers moving on. There, Ferrucci earned a score of 355.55 for his six dives and finished in sixth place.
“Greg is showing some real toughness under pressure,” UK diving head coach Ted Hautau said. “He missed his first dive today but fought back to finish sixth in a very tough field. He was three points out of third place, very impressive for a freshman.”
Ferrucci’s sixth place finish adds to his already impressive performance in Knoxville, Tenn. Ferrucci earned a third-place finish in the men’s one-meter championship Monday.
The women’s one-meter championship preliminary/quarterfinal round had 44 entrants, including Faulkner and freshman Emma Brown.
Faulkner finished in fourth place in the prelims with a score of 271.05. Brown earned a score of 201.15 on her six dives and finished in 29th place.
In the finals Faulkner earned a score of 262.50 for her six dives and finished in seventh place.
“This meet is run in the same format as the NCAA qualifying meet in March,” Hautau said. “The field is large with some very good competition and it simulates the long time between dives the divers will face at both the NCAA qualifier and NCAAs. Lisa did a great job today of managing herself mentally between rounds. I was very pleased with her performance and finish.”
The yearly invite, currently in its third year, will conclude Wednesday with the men’s and women’s platform.
The Kentucky swimming and diving teams will head down to Savannah, Ga., Wednesday for a tri-meet with the Savannah College of Art and Design and Limestone College. The meet will be the first of the spring season for the Cats.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for all your news on the Kentucky swimming and diving teams.
