Divers to Open NCAA Championships Thursday

MINNEAPOLIS — Four University of Miami women’s divers will open their run at the 2014 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships Thursday at the University Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

Cheyenne Cousineau, Lindsay Lester, Kara McCormack and Thea Vock all punched their tickets to the postseason with dominant performances during last week’s Zone B qualifying. 

Vock captured first place in the 1-meter finals, Cousineau and Lester delivered strong showings in the 3-meter springboard, and McCormack’s performance in the platform earned her Miami’s fourth berth on the final day of qualifying.

The Univeristy of Miami is the only school with four participants in the field of 41. Two schools – Florida State and Virginia Tech – have three participants each.

Miami will look to continue its impressive momentum from last year’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, when Lester, McCormack and Carrie Dragland all earned All-America recognition for top finishes. Lester finished eighth nationally in the 3-meter event, McCormack earned the honor in the platform, and Dragland was named Honorable Mention All-America in the 1-meter.

The championships will be held March 20-22.