GAINESVILLE, Fla. — LSU diver Rebecca St. Germain delivered the best performance of her young career Saturday, capturing silver in the women’s one-meter springboard at the 2011 Southeastern Conference Diving Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
St. Germain, the 2010 SEC Freshman Diver of the Year, shattered the school record in the event final with a sensational six-dive total of 331.15. Her mark is the third-highest score ever at an SEC championship meet under the current six-dive format.
The Lady Tiger sophomore fell less than six points short of the winning score and SEC meet record of 336.55 registered by South Carolina’s Taryn Zack.
St. Germain wasn’t the only LSU diver to shine Saturday as freshman Daniel Helm claimed fifth overall in the men’s three-meter with a career-high score of 380.70. Helm qualified for the final with a 348.65 score in the prelims.
“I couldn’t be happier with the performances of Becca and Daniel today,” co-head coach Doug Shaffer said. “Becca really rose to the occasion, breaking the school record and coming away with her first SEC medal. The entire final was a nail-biter, and she went dive for dive all the way to the end with Taryn Zack. It was one of the best women’s one-meter competitions I’ve seen.
“Daniel was on fire today. He definitely learned a lot from his first career finals appearance and really set the stage for his bright future.”
Freshman Sean McKinney enjoyed a fine three-meter prelim session, posting a score of 332.90 to tie for 10th. Junior Brian Gemberling contributed to the men’s overall team score with a 15th-place finish (306.10).
Lady Tiger sophomore Elle Schmidt placed 18th in the one-meter (249.10), while men’s junior Matt Vieke finished 22nd in the three-meter (276.95).
Auburn’s Dan Mazzaferro won the men’s three-meter with a mark of 415.75.
After two days of diving action, the LSU men’s divers have recorded 36.5 team points, currently third in the overall standings. The Lady Tigers have 29.5 points, which is fourth among SEC women’s teams.
The final day of the SEC Diving Championships will feature the men’s and women’s platform competitions. The prelims will begin with the women’s competition at 10 a.m. (CST), while the finals start at 1:30 p.m.
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2011 SEC Diving Championships
Feb. 11-13
Gainesville, Fla.
Schedule of Events – Feb. 13
10 a.m. – Women’s Platform Prelim
Noon – Men’s Platform Prelim
1:30 p.m. – Women’s Platform Final
2:30 p.m. – Men’s Platform Final