Kentucky Secures Three Additional Entries for NCAA Championships

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Kentucky divers picked up three additional spots in the NCAA Championships Friday afternoon at the Zone C Diving Championships. Senior Rebecca Hamperian finished first overall in the women’s 1-meter, while sophomore Sebastian Masterton turned in the sixth-best score in the men’s 3-meter to each automatically qualify for the national meet.

After automatically qualifying on the 3-meter on Thursday, Hamperian’s cumulative score of 618.90 Friday marked her second NCAA automatic qualifying score. She narrowly defeated the second place finisher, as Miami (Ohio)’s Pei Lin finished just a half of a point behind. Lin finished third in the event at the NCAA Championships a season ago.

“It’s a great confidence boost going into NCAAs,” said Hamperian. “I was a little tight during warmups, but I just had to relax and do what I knew I could do. Really had to step my game up to compete with the girls at the top which is also a great prep for next week.”

After the preliminary round, Masterton sat in sixth place overall on the 3-meter springboard with a score of 394.30. The sophomore stayed consistent into the finals, and held onto his standing to earn entrance into NCAAs. 

“Massive burden off my shoulders really going through with the injury,” Masterton said as he’s been dealing with a nagging wrist injury. “Thanks to our athletic trainer Nick and everyone here supporting me, that’s all I needed to get through it. This year was much tougher to qualify with fewer spots and the Olympians coming back. Having been last year to NCAAs, I feel like I can go in more relaxed and know what to expect.”

Because Masterton placed in the top 12 on yesterday’s 1-meter competition, his automatic qualifying score today allows him to compete in both events in at the championships in Indianapolis.

The Wildcats will wrap up competition at the Zone C Diving Championships with the men’s and women’s platform dives tomorrow.  Action is set for an 11 a.m. ET start.  Live results are available here.

1. Rebecca Hamperian – 618.90

17. Emma Dellmore – 509.80

2. Rebecca Hamperian – 317.20

17. Emma Dellmore – 249.90

25. Courtney Clark – 238.20

26. Kailey Francetic – 238.00

6. Sebastian Masterton – 755.05

11. Kevin Frebel – 662.90

6. Sebastian Masterton – 394.30

11. Kevin Frebel – 325.85

23. Stephen Jou – 277.45

28. Noah Richter – 253.35

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