ATLANTA — Georgia diver Hannah Moore automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships on Friday with a third-place finish on the 1-meter springboard in the Zone B Championship.
Competing at Georgia Tech’s Aquatic Center, Moore posted a two-round score of 572.55 points. She was sixth after the 33-woman prelims with 280.65 points, but recorded 291.90 points in the 18-woman finals to move up to third. Duke’s Abby Johnston was first with 636.00 points and Florida’s Kara Salamone was second with 585.25.
“Hannah was very consistent today,” Georgia diving coach Dan Laak said. “She kept fighting all the way through. She’s a heck of a competitor. She knows what needs to be done, and she does it. After her first list, I told her to turn the heat up, and she did. She did not miss a dive.”
Moore, a junior from Moultrie, will join her Georgia swimming teammates at the NCAAs next Thursday through Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind. Moore will be making her third straight appearance in the NCAAs.
“It’s such a relief to know I’ve made it and I don’t have to sweat it out the rest of the weekend,” said Moore, who will compete on 3-meter Saturday and platform on Sunday.
“I am really excited about the NCAAs, and I am thrilled that we’ll have (the maximum of) 18 there. I can’t wait to get to the NCAAs. I am excited about being a part of it, and I just want to score as many points as I can to help our team.”
Georgia’s Landon Watters scored 201.95 points in the prelims to wind up 28th. She will join Moore in the 3-meter competition on Saturday.
Also on Friday, the Bulldogs’ Alex Watson came in 19th, Owen Blank finished 22nd and Tim Barrett came in 32nd on the 3-meter springboard.
Watson scored 303.45 points, followed by Blank with 284.15 and Barrett with 235.60. They will compete on 1-meter on Saturday.
Tennessee’s Ryan Helms, a Moss Farms teammate of Moore’s and Blank’s, was eighth on 3-meter with a 670.85.
Duke’s Nick McCrory was first with an 843.55.
Auburn’s Anna Aguero, also from Moultrie, was sixth on women’s 1-meter.
The Zone B Championships will continue today and will conclude on Sunday.
Live results can be found at divemeets.com.
