SWIM/DIVE: Duke opens action at Tennessee Invitational

Duke

SWIM/DIVE: Duke opens action at Tennessee Invitational

Jan 3, 2013

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Knoxville, Tenn. — Junior Nick McCrory took second in the men’s 1-meter springboard competition to lead the Blue Devil divers on the first day of the Tennessee Diving Invitational, which continues through Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Volunteers’ Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

McCrory, who returned to collegiate action Thursday following a year of training which culminated in a bronze medal in synchronized platform diving at the 2012 London Olympics, qualified for Thursday’s 1-meter finals with a ninth-place showing in the event preliminaries (303.00). In the 1-meter finals, McCrory earned an NCAA Zone Diving Championships qualifying mark of 319.75 to finish second of 12 divers. His highest-scoring dive came in the final round, a back 1 ½ somersault with 1 ½ twists which garnered a score of 56.25 from the judges.

Three other Blue Devils also competed in the preliminaries of the men’s 1-meter competition, including senior Jordan Long, who just missed a spot in the finals with a 13th-place finish (294.55). Sophomore Clay Pinckney totaled a season-best 278.25 points to come in 17th, while freshman Deon Reid scored 258.95 points to finish 27th.

The preliminaries and finals of the women’s 3-meter springboard competition were also contested Thursday, with rookies Kendall McClenney and Jaimee Gundry posting top-30 finishes in the preliminary round. McClenney placed 23rd with a score of 243.95 while Gundry totaled a season-high 237.30 points on her list of six dives to come in 26th.

The Tennessee Diving Invitational resumes Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. with the preliminaries and finals of the men’s 3-meter and women’s 1-meter springboard events. Live results and live streaming will be available.