UCLA
Trojan Diving Invitational
Bruins Go 1-2 on Day 1 at Trojan Diving Invite
November 10, 2017 | Swimming & Diving
LOS ANGELES – The Bruins had a successful start to the Trojan Diving Invitational, as Ciara Monahan and Eloise Belanger finished first and second, respectively, in the 3-Meter competition at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center on the campus of USC. Monahan led after the preliminary round of the contest and was able to hold off her hard-charging Bruin teammate.
Monahan, who registered scores of 50.40 or higher on her final four dives of the prelims, scored 301.85 over the course of the opening round. Carly Souza of host USC was a close second at 294.05. Bruin freshman Alice Yanovsky was slotted fifth after a score of 262.50. Belanger was 10th at 253.35, but looked poised for a big final round after posting the highest score of the day at 63.00, as well as a final-dive 60.00.
Sure enough, Belanger pushed Monahan down the stretch, as the Bruins gradually distanced themselves from Trojans Souza and Madison Witt. In the end, it was Monahan's 5152B that did the job, scoring a 58.50 to establish some degree of a cushion. Belanger's third dive of the round (305C) went for 61.60, but the steady senior held on for an impressive win. Monahan posted a total score of 578.45, while Belanger finished at 573.90. Souza came in third, totaling a combined score of 559.60.
Yanovsky (520.90) went on to finish sixth on the day, while Traci Shiver (480.90) posted a 10th-place score. Madeline Russell rounded out the Bruin participants at 14th, recording a score of 464.20.
The Trojan Diving Invitational will continue Saturday with the women's 1-Meter, an event that Belanger won in 2016. Prelims will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Players Mentioned
