BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University divers have put themselves in contention for World Championship spots after the first day of competition at the USA Diving World Championship Individual Trials at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington.
Former Hoosier All-American Amy Cozad and sophomore Jessica Parratto are in the driver’s seat in the women’s platform competition. Cozad leads the field after 10 rounds with a score of 695.30, followed by Parratto in second place with a score of 669.30. Texas’ Samantha Bromberg sits in third place at 628.95.
The final five-round session will take place Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. The top two finishers will represent Team USA at the FINAL World Championships, July 24-August 2 in Kazan, Russia.
Cozad and Parratto headed into the semifinal round 1-2 with Cozad putting up a score of 365.10 in the morning prelim session and Parratto coming in at 350.00.
Indiana junior Michael Hixon and former All-American Darian Schmidt are in a battle with Stanford’s Kristian Ipsen for the top two spots in the men’s 3-meter springboard competition. Ipsen leads the field with a score of 860.55, with Hixon (849.50) and Schmidt (837.50) right on his heels.
Hixon’s big move came on his fifth-round dive, a 4 1Ž2 somersault tuck that earned him 96.90 points, bumping him up to second place with one dive remaining. He followed that with an 81.60 on his final dive, an inward 3 1Ž2 somersault tuck.
The six-round final session will take place on Sunday following the women’s platform competition. The top two finishers make the World Championship team.
In the 3-meter prelims, Schmidt finished second with a score of 436.90, while Hixon was third with his tally of 392.35.