Six Bruins To Compete At NCAA Zones

Photo is courtesy of UCLA and credited to Chuckarelei Studios

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Six Bruin divers travel to Northern Arizona University’s Aquatic and Tennis Complex for the 2016 NCAA Zone E Diving Championships, which take place March 7-9.  A total of 99 divers from 25 universities look to qualify for the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships later this month.

The three-day event kicks off on Monday with the 1-meter competition.  Preliminaries begin at 10 a.m. PT, with the top 18 advancing to the finals, which begin at 1:40 p.m. PT.  All six Bruins—Maria Polyakova, Ciara Monahan, Annika Lenz, Kat Friese, Eloise Belanger, and Montana Monahan—will compete in event.  Polyakova is the 2016 Pac-12 Champion in the 1-meter after her season-best 324.80 in the finals secured the top spot on the podium.

On Tuesday, all but Montana Monahan will compete in the 3-meter event.  Prelims begin at 10 a.m. PT, followed by the finals at 1:35 p.m. PT.  At the Pac-12 Championships last month, Belanger placed fourth overall with a season-best 338.95; Lenz finished seventh.  After having won six of seven 3-meter competitions since October, Polyakova looks to rebound from her 14th-place finish at Pac-12’s.      

Zones conclude on Wednesday with the platform event, with Lenz, Belanger, and Montana Monahan representing UCLA.  Prelims begin at 10:00 a.m. PT, with the top 18 competing in the finals at 12:35 p.m. PT.

The top nine finishers from 1-meter, the top 11 from 3-meter, and the top nine from the platform will be eligible to compete in this month's NCAA Championships, which take place March 16-19 in Atlanta, Ga.

For live results, visit www.divemeets.com.  Admission is free for all fans to attend.  Parking will be available in the San Francisco Street parking garage on the Northern Arizona University campus for a daily fee.