UCLA
NCAA Zone E Diving Championships
Polyakova 2nd, Lenz 8th in 1-Meter on Day Two of NCAA Zones
March 10, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
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NCAA Zone E Diving Championships Central
COLORADO SPRINGS - A day after clinching a spot in this month's NCAA Championships, freshman Maria Polyakova recorded another top three finish at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships at the Air Force Academy's Cadet Natatorium, placing 2nd in the 1-Meter.
Polyakova, who was third on Monday in the 3-Meter, was third after her preliminary six dives with a total of 308.60, which was just .4 out of first place. Sophomore Annika Lenz, who finished fifth on Monday to also make an NCAA berth, tied for 13th in the prelims (270.75) to make the finals, while freshman Ciara Monahan just missed out of the top 16 with a 20th-place showing (258.30) in the prelims.
With the field cut to 18 from the initial 56, Polyakova immediately jumped to the front of the pack in the finals, leading after each of the first three rounds. She was surpassed by Arizona's Samantha Pickens at the end of round four and maintained her second-place position, posting a six-dive total of 305.35 in the finals for an overall score of 613.95.
It is the best finish for a Bruin at Zones since 2009 when Marisa Samaniego won the 3-Meter and Platform events.
Lenz finished 8th, posting a personal-best 293.10 in the finals for an overall 12-dive total of 563.85.
Zones conclude on Wednesday with the Platform, as Lenz will be carrying the Bruin flag alongside 40 other divers. Preliminaries begin at 10 a.m. PT, with the top 18 advancing to the finals at 12 p.m. PT. Lenz shattered the UCLA school record in the Platform at the Pac-12 Championships on Feb. 28 with a total of 323.15.
Players Mentioned
