Miami Diver Carrie Dragland Earns All-America Honors
March 18, 2011
Complete Day Two Results (PDF) 
AUSTIN, Texas – University of Miami junior diver Carrie Dragland earned her second All-America honor in as many days on Friday, taking a sixth place finish on the 3-meter springboard on the second day of the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center hosted by the University of Texas.
Dragland, a transfer from Alabama that wanted to dive for UM veteran head coach Randy Ableman, claimed All-America status on Thursday in the 1-meter event, before taking part in the 3-meter on Friday. She finished Friday with a score of 347.95.
In order to claim All-America honors, a diver must finish in the top eight of the finals event.
After finishing sixth in the prelims of the 3-meter springboard, Dragland matched that with a sixth place finish in the finals after her six-dive competition. In the finals, she claimed two 60-plus point dives on her second and third attempts, respectively.
Her second dive, a Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 1 Twist Pike, landed her a judges’ score of an even 63. She posted a 60.45 point dive in her next attempt – a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike.
Duke’s Abby Johnston was the top performer with 409.35 points, followed by former Miami diver Kelci Bryant of Minnesota in second place with 395.85 points.
In swimming action, senior Annika Saarnak and swimming head coach Christie Shefchunas took part in their second event of the NCAA’s, using Saarnak in the 100 butterfly. Saarnak failed to qualify for the finals, but touched the wall in a time of 53.14 seconds. She continues to make history for a blossoming UM swimming team under fifth-year head coach Shefchunas.
For Saarnak, this was her second NCAA Championships event, also taking part in the 50 freestyle on Thursday. Competing at this year’s NCAA Championships, Saarnak represented the first UM swimmer to advance to the yearly championships since Summer Olympics Gold medalist [2008 Summer Games] – Manon van Rooijen. Van Rooijen competed for the Orange and Green at the NCAA Championships in 2002, earning All-America honors in the 100- and 200 freestyle.
Miami will continue diving at the championships tomorrow, as the three-day annual event concludes with the 10-meter platform. Redshirt senior Brittany Viola looks for a second national title on the platform, having captured the 2008 NCAA National Championship on the 10-meter board.
For complete results of the NCAA Championships, please visit the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships website by clicking here. The entire championships will be streamed live via internet at ESPN3.com.
For more information on the University of Miami swimming & diving team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes swimming & diving program.
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