Chaney, Layland Qualify for NCAA Championships
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — University of Miami divers Carolyn Chaney and Wally Layland were among those student-athletes to qualify for the 2018 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships with standout performances on the 1-meter springboard at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center Monday night.
Layland took second in Zone B qualifying hosted by the University of Tennessee, finishing with a score of 584.30 points to edge Ayla Bonniwell of Florida State. A two-time Honorable Mention All-America, Layland will be making the final trip of her career to the NCAA Championships, being held this year at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.
“The NCAA Championships will be the last competition of my diving career, so I’m extremely excited to have qualified,” Layland said. “No matter what competition it is, wearing ‘The U’ is always an honor and I take pride in it. But representing ‘The U’ at the national championships is always that much more special, and I am excited to do it one last time.”
Chaney earned the seventh and final spot from Zone B with an impressive performance of her own. Chaney finished with a score of 552.85 points – just ahead of eighth-place finisher Blaire Mulka of Florida State, who ended with 551.20.
“Qualifying for the NCAAs is a huge accomplishment in and of itself, and coming off a medical redshirt last year, it makes it that much sweeter,” Chaney said. “It’s an honor to be a Miami Hurricane, and I can’t wait to represent ‘The U’ in Columbus next week.”
Freshman Zach Cooper took part in the men’s 3-meter springboard. He finished in 16th with a score of 321.55.
NCAA Qualifiers
Women’s 1-Meter (7 Qualifiers)
1. Julia Vincent, South Carolina
2. Wallace Layland, Miami
3. Ayla Bonniwell, Florida State
4. Rachel Rubadue, Tennessee
5. Alison Maillard, Auburn
6. Olivia Ball, Georgia
7. Carolyn Chaney, Miami
Tuesday’s Schedule
(All times Eastern)
11 a.m. – Men’s 1-meter prelims
1:15 p.m. – Men’s 1-meter finals
3:30 p.m. – Women’s 3-meter prelims
5:55 p.m. – Women’s 3-meter finals
