Three Chapman divers earn spots in SCIAC Finals
ORANGE, Calif. – Three Chapman University women's divers qualified for the SCIAC finals, competing at the 2012-13 SCIAC Diving Preliminaries at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on Saturday and Sunday. The Panthers boasted three of the top eight divers in the women's 3 meters on Saturday, led by senior Kiernan Gilbert. The senior then made it two-for-two on Sunday, earning a berth in the 1-meter finals, as well.
Gilbert qualified for the SCIAC Diving Finals with fourth place finishes in both events during the preliminaries. On Saturday, she edged out Whittier's Marisa Refe by 11 points to finish in the top four with an overall score of 286.86 after 11 dives.
Her strongest dive came in her fourth trip to the board when she pulled off a forward 2.5 somersault, pike that earned an average score of 7.0 from the judges. Gilbert followed that immediately with a backward 1.5 somersault, straight – her two most difficult dives of the day.
Freshman Jamie Ralph and sophomore Darcy Hardwick also qualified for the SCIAC finals in the 3 meters, coming in seventh and eighth place respectively. Ralph with a total score of 229.50, earned her highest scores on a reverse 1.5 somersault, tuck with two judges awarding her scores of 7.0. Hardwick came in with a 217.20 overall score following scores of 6.0 and 6.5 on her forward 1.5 somersault, pike in her second attempt.
On Day 2, Gilbert again performed her toughest dives early in the 1-meter competition, receiving the highest marks on her second dive, a forward double somersault, pike which earned scores as high as 6.5 from judges. The senior was still well back of the top three scorers, trailing third place by more than 70 points, but was the best of the rest as just 32.5 points separated fourth and seventh places.
The Chapman trio will compete for the SCIAC title in the 3 meters on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. as part of the SCIAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Splash! La Mirada Aquatics Center. Gilbert will then compete again as Chapman's lone participant in the 1-meter event on Monday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
Day 1 Results: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/swimdive/2012-13/files/SCIAC_Diving_Prelims_Day_1.pdf
Day 2 Results: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/swimdive/2012-13/files/SCIAC_Diving_Prelims_Day_2.pdf
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