Kentucky divers Mario Rodriguez and Jessica Thompson qualified for the upcoming NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships by way of solid weekend performances in the NCAA Zone B Diving Meet at Georgia?s Gabrielsen Natatorium. Rodriguez was one of 13 males and Thompson one of 11 females to qualify from NCAA Zone B, which covers much of the southeast. Each diver will be making their first NCAA Championship appearances.

Rodriguez, a junior from Mexico City, turned in high marks all season long and was able to qualify for NCAA post-season competition after a serious knee injury cut short his 2003 season. Rodriguez placed 12th in the platform Sunday with a score of 408.85, capping a strong weekend showing, and now will await his stint at the NCAA Championships from Mar. 24-27 in East Meadow, N.Y.

Thompson, a sophomore from Matthews, N.C., placed 10th on the platform Sunday and will make her first NCAA showing this week after a solid second season at Kentucky. Thompson is bound for the NCAA Championships at Texas A&M, which run from this Wednesday, Mar. 17 through Saturday, Mar. 20.

Freshman Kari Retrum had her second quality showing on the platform at Georgia in as many weeks, taking third with a score of 398.00. Freshman Jillian Becker placed 14th with a 315.95 and freshman Joey Brown scored a 314.15 to take 15th place.