Lexington, Ky. – Kentucky junior Joey Brown led the Wildcats’ diving team on Friday with a score of 286.80 in the finals and a fourth place finish in the 1-meter diving event at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Lexington, Ky.
The NCAA Zone Diving Championships serve as the first round of competition for collegiate divers. There are five zones in action this weekend and 22 participants from Zone B (nine women and 13 men) will advance to the upcoming NCAA Championships.
Brown, who finished third in all three diving events at last month’s SEC Championships, has put herself in position to advance to next week’s NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga. The top-three finishers in the 1-meter are guaranteed to advance. If one of them also gains a guaranteed spot in the 3-meter or platform, Brown will then become eligible.
The Cats’ began the meet by tying the Miami Hurricanes with the most competitors reaching the 18 person finals with four.
Brown, who tied teammate Kari Retrum for sixth after the preliminary round, totaled 549.05 points to finish fourth overall. Retrum finished 10th as four Wildcats placed in the top-11 in the 1-meter.
Senior Jessica Thompson had the Cats’ highest score in the prelims (266.60) and finished in eighth overall with a total score of 529.85.
SEC platform champion Taryn Ignacio rounded out the Cats’ finishers with a score of 514.05 to place 11th.
“The way these zone meets work is the top-3 finishers in the 1-meter are guaranteed (to advance),” Kentucky diving coach Mike Lyden said. “If any of those divers place in the top-3 on the 3-meter, than a spot opens up and that would go to Joey Brown. Realistically, unless something weird happens, she (Brown) will probably be at the meet (NCAA Championships).”
“On the 3-meter, four spots are available. Hopefully (tomorrow) we will be able to get some of those spots. Typically that is where Jessica (Thompson) dives her best. Kari (Retrum) can dive well on the 3-meter and Taryn (Ignacio) can dive well on any board when she is on.”
The Zone B Diving Championships continue tomorrow at the Lancaster Aquatics Center with the men’s 1-meter and the women’s 3-meter events. The action begins at noon EST and fans can check ukathletics.com for score updates and a complete recap.
