UM Divers Look To Improve

March 14, 2003

AUBURN, Ala. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The University of Miami divers competed in the first day of NCAA Zone B Regionals Friday at Auburn University in Alabama.

Friday, the men competed in the one-meter event, while the women competed in the three-meter dive.

On the men’s side, Miguel Velazquez (Mexico City, Mexico) placed sixth with a finals score of 643.05. On the women’s, Katie Beth Bryant (Chatham, Ill.) also finished in sixth with a trials score of 498.60.

According to coach Randy Ableman’s estimation, the sixth-place performances of Bryant and Velazquez should be enough to earn them a berth in the NCAA Championships.

“We did some nice dives, but we missed a couple,” the decorated coach said. “We just have a lot of work to do.”

UM’s divers’ chances of qualifying will depend on the results of the remainder of the three-day event. The event includes both men’s and women’s platform, three-meter and one-meter dives. If one meets the criteria of a single event, the other event counts as an exhibition score. Each of UM’s divers will likely compete in all three dives.

The Southeast Zone is widely considered the strongest and deepest field of competition in the country.

Other Hurricane divers were also in competition Friday. Melanie Rinaldi (Mte. Nord, Canada) scored a 452.65 in the three-meter and Emily Spychala (Odessa, Fla.) scored a 226.10.

Tomorrow, the competition will include the women’s one-meter and the men’s three-meter. Sunday will be the final day of competition with both the women’s and men’s platform events.

Results will be posted on www.hurricanesports.com following the day’s events.