March 23, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – University of Miami divers Miguel Velazquez and Derek Starks are set to take part in the 2005 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships that begin Thursday, March 24th and run through March 26th at the University Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
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Velazquez and Starks are two of 27 Atlantic Coast Conference swimmers and divers representing nine league schools that will participate in the three-day meet. Minnesota has hosted the event on five different occasions (1937, 1994, 1997, 2000), while Auburn is the two-time defending champion.
The Hurricanes will begin competition on Thursday with the one-meter springboard followed by the three-meter springboard on Friday. The diving competition will conclude with the 10-meter platform on Sunday. The diving preliminary sessions will begin at 1:30 p.m. each day, while the finals will commence at 7:00 p.m.
Last season, Velazquez earned his third, fourth and fifth All-America honors at the 2004 NCAA Championships. His highest finish of the meet was third place in the 10-meter platform (533.55). The Mexico City, Mexico native has earned All-American honors his three years as a Hurricane.
Starks earned his first All-America honor on the 10-meter platform when he placed fifth (498.75) at the 2004 NCAA Championships.
For the most up-to-date Miami diving news and results, stay tuned to hurricanesports.com.