ATLANTA — Junior diver Paige Brown won the platform competition with a career-high score, culminating the LSU diving team’s successful weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational.
Brown, a native of Zionsville, Ind., recorded the first platform win of her career in a mark of 266.85. The score was 12 points better than that of second-place finisher Stephanie England of Georgia Tech. Senior Hali Saucier was fourth (233), and freshman Rachel Ware placed fifth (231.25).
“I am ecstatic for Paige,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “She has always displayed that talent and ability. Not only did she win the event, but she did a near perfect dive.”
Brown was LSU’s second highest finisher in the 1-meter by taking fifth (238.70), while also finishing eighth in the 3-meter (233.95).
Meanwhile, Saucier recorded another victory by winning the women’s 1-meter title on Saturday. The senior recorded a score of 272.60 to edge Auburn’s Corey Gerlach (270.30).
After posting the highest 3-meter tally in the prelims, Saucier took runner-up honors in the 3-meter finals (295.35). Ware was fifth sixth in the 3-meter (272.35) and sixth in the 1-meter (236.85).
On the men’s side, sophomore Nathan Schreiber used a career-high score of 323.20 to take runner-up honors in the 1-meter behind Auburn’s Steven Segerlin. Schreiber was the Tigers’ highest finisher in the 3-meter with a third-place mark of 269.70.
Senior Andrew Keane led LSU in the men’s platform, finishing fourth (267.75) and Schreiber was fifth (257.20). Keane collected two seventh-place finishes in the 1-meter (263.70) and 3-meter (262.85).
Freshman Kalister Harmon took seventh in the platform event (207.90), and he was 10th in both the 1-meter (224.05) and 3-meter (245.70).
Shaffer said the experience gave the Tigers another competition featuring platform as they head into the holiday break.
“We fulfilled our goal of going up against quality competition and competing in platform,” said Shaffer. “Under the circumstances, I thought we did a great job. We look forward to the rest of the season.”
LSU returns to dual-meet action on Jan. 12 when it plays host to Florida State at the LSU Natatorium.