Feb. 28, 2002
TUCSON, Ariz. - Freshman Thomas McCrummen and senior Natalie Burgess led the Sun Devils through the first day of the Pac-10 Diving Championships at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center in Tucson, Ariz., Thursday. The point totals from the diving events will later be added to the team totals from the Pac-10 Swimming Championships, which are being held simultaneously for the women, next week for the men, in Long Beach, Calif.
In the men's 3-meter springboard, the University of Arizona captured the top three spots, with ASU's McCrummen taking fourth and sophomore Gordon Blukis placing fifth. McCrummen set a collegiate best with his championship total of 508.25, as Blukis tallied 492.20 points. UA's Omar Ojeda won the event with a score of 611.05.
Meanwhile in the women's 1-meter springboard optionals, senior Natalie Burgess placed sixth with a score of 253.10 to lead the Sun Devils. Sophomore Jessica Stenson placed 16th at 214.10, and freshman Nicole Zukowski came in 27th at 163.40. USC's Blythe Hartley won the event with a six-dive total of 314.25.
The diving championships resume tomorrow with preliminaries and finals of both the men's 1-meter and the women's 3-meter. Saturday the meet will conclude with both men's and women's platform competitions.
The Pac-10 women's swimming championships are running simultaneously from the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach, Calif. Results from Day One will be released later. The men's swimming championships are not until March 7-9, also in Long Beach, Calif.