DALLAS — LSU divers Paige Brown and Hali Saucier secured berths in the platform competition of the U.S. Diving National Championships with qualifying scores on the final day of the Zone C Midwest Championships held at the SMU campus.
Brown, a native of Zionsville, Ind., advanced to her first national competition with a fifth-place mark of 359.90 in the platform event. The sophomore also competed in the 3-meter springboard on Saturday, taking 14th-place with a score of 157.20.
Saucier, who qualified for the national championships in the 1-meter on Friday, locked up her second event by taking fourth place in the platform with a score of 373.90. The Gig Harbor, Wash., native finished ninth in the 3-meter on Saturday with a mark of 360.85.
“They did a great job and competed very well,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “It is a remarkable and outstanding feat given the fact that they have been diving platform for only a year now. To qualify for the national championships is an awesome experience.”
The top five divers in the platform event of the regional qualifier advanced to the national competition. Approximately 125 athletes will compete on 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, 10-meter platform, 3-meter synchronized springboard and 10-meter synchronized platform when the championships get underway on Aug. 9 from Huntersville, N.C. The winner of each event will be crowned the national champion, while the top six divers on 3-meter and platform will be named to the national team.