Dorman Highlights Day Two at Winter Nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Miami diving team continued its positive momentum on Tuesday at the USA Diving Winter Nationals, as all three competing divers advanced to the finals of their respective events.
Junior Kara McCormack, who captured a silver medal on Day One in the 1-meter event, delivered a seventh-place showing in the platform semifinals (543.20) to earn one of eight qualifying spots. Just behind her was Cheyenne Cousineau, who earned the eighth and final spot with 521.80 points.
“Cheyenne and Kara were both very steady,” head coach Randy Ableman said. “They both had a couple of great dives, and were just a little bit off on a couple. Hopefully in the finals they can turn up their game one more notch.”
Redshirt junior Sam Dorman, competing in his first event of the six-day tournament hosted at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, breezed his way into the finals with a fourth-place showing (879.60). The Tempe, Ariz., native had the highest-single score of any diver on the day with 100.70 points on his front 4 ½ tuck in the semifinal round.
“He keeps getting better, and has had several big meets in a row where he has performed well,” Ableman said. “He’s certainly establishing himself as one of the best divers in the country.”
Dorman became the first Hurricane to ever capture three gold medals at the 2013 AT&T National Diving Championships this past summer, and is looking to continue his success on the international level with hopes of earning one of two qualifying spots for the FINA World Cup.
“It’s a very tough field, and he has to end in the top two finishes to qualify,” Ableman said. “He has an opportunity in the finals to move up. He continues to get better every time he gets out there.”
Scores carry over into Saturday’s finals, with the national champions on the two events determined by cumulative scores from three lists of dives. Results will also be used to select teams for several 2014 international competitions.
The USA Diving Winter National Championships continue through Sunday, December 22. Thursday’s competition features women’s 3-meter and men’s 10-meter preliminaries and semifinals. Thea Vock, Lindsay Lester, Cousineau and McCormack will all compete in the women’s 3-meter event, while sophomore Tanner Wilfong will compete in the men’s platform.
