Diving #CAAChamps Day 1 Recap
Tim McDonnell
Championship Central
Women's 3-Meter Results |
Men's 1-Meter Results
NEWARK, Del. (February 20, 2016) – The 2016 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Men’s and Women's Diving Championships officially started on Saturday evening at the University of Delaware's Rawstrom Natatorium and a pair of seniors - UD’s Kristina Congdon and Drexel’s David Sanchez – stood atop the podium after Day 1 of competition.
The CAA Swimming & Diving Championships are conducted as two separate events for the second consecutive season. The Diving Championships, once again held in Newark, run through Sunday evening with the men’s and women’s 1 and 3-meter boards, while the Swimming Championships (held in Richmond, Va.) begin on Wednesday, February 24 and continue through Saturday, February 27.
Women's 3-Meter Finals
Congdon opened up the 2016 Championship in impressive fashion, capturing her first-ever CAA diving title with a top score of 306.55. The senior entered the weekend following a strong season, earning CAA Diver of the Week honors two times. Impressively, she becomes the first UD women’s diver since 2003 (Julie Van Deusen) to claim the league’s 3-meter board title. A native of Yardley, Pa., Congdon also competes in tomorrow’s 1-meter board event. At last year’s championship, she placed second on the 1-meter.
The Dukes of James Madison had two competitors finish the in the top 5, with junior Olivia Lehman (304.45) placing second and senior Carly Alexander (263.75) finishing fourth. Delaware senior Caitlin Stockwell, for the second straight year, earned a solid third-place finish with a score of 268.00.
Men's 1-Meter Finals
Sanchez has been a familiar face at the top of the conference championship podium in recent years, having won the 3-meter title twice in his career, while also being named CAA Men’s Diver of the Year in 2o13 and 2015. On Saturday, the senior won his first CAA gold medal on the 1-meter board, registering a season-high score of 333.25. Sanchez competes on the 3-meter board Sunday with a chance to become the first CAA men’s diver since 2014 to sweep both diving events at the championship.
UNCW redshirt sophomore Allen Crosby (289.15) and Delaware junior Luke Winkler (270.45) finished second and third, respectively, for silver and bronze. Crosby made his first appearance in the championship since 2014, when he took home CAA Men’s Rookie Diver of the Year honors following the conclusion of the season. Colin Hall, a senior, placed fourth with a score of 257.55.
On Sunday, championship competitors head back on the board for the women's 1-meter Finals and the men's 3-meter Finals, which take place at 5:45 p.m., again for free and live on CAA.tv.
Day 1 Women's 3-Meter Results
1. Kristina Congdon, Delaware, Senior (306.55)
2. Olivia Lehman, James Madison, Junior (304.45)
3. Caitlin Stockwell, Delaware, Senior (268.00)
4. Carly Alexander, James Madison, Senior (263.75)
5. Jacquelyn Gover, Northeastern, Sophomore (263.05)
6. Emily Wilson, Towson, Freshman, (238.15)
7. Natalee Szopo, Towson, Senior (230.75)
8. Mackenzie Hagist, Northeastern, Freshman (223.50)
Day 1 Men's 1-Meter Results
1. David Sanchez, Drexel, Senior (333.25)
2. Allen Crosby, UNCW, Redshirt Sophomore (289.15)
3. Luke Winkler, Delaware, Junior (270.45)
4. Colin Hall, Delaware, Senior (257.55)
5. Simon Carne, Drexel, Sophomore (241.60)
6. Michael Binkauskas, Drexel, Freshman (212.40)
7. Nathan Lane, UNCW, Junior (212.15)
8. Reed Vennel, Drexel, Junior (197.05)
For more information on the 2016 CAA Diving Championships, visit our official championship pages under the championships tab at caasports.com. Fans can join the social media conversation by using the official CAA Championships hashtag, #CAAChamps. As always, the CAA's primary social media accounts – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat – will provide behind-the-scenes content and coverage as well. Just search "caasports" and follow along.
CAA.TV is the online home for live coverage throughout the CAA Diving Championships. Logon using any internet connected device to access live video. Fans can also follow live results throughout the championship by visiting the Championship Central page.