Jan. 8, 2003
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Arizona State freshman men's diver Joona Puhakka finished fifth in this morning's 3-meter springboard qualifying competition for the Speedo American Cup, good enough to advance him to Friday's preliminaries in this premier diving event. Puhakka, a Finnish National Team member, scored a 340.50 in the six-dive optionals qualifier.
Puhakka has had an outstanding start to his Sun Devil career, and has won every event he has entered thus far this season. He holds the ASU school record in the 3-meter, six-dive optionals with a 387.90 that he recorded against UNLV on October 25.
ASU sophomore diver Thomas McCrummen, the returning Pac-10 Freshman Diver of the Year, barely missed qualification for Friday's event after placing 20th with a 256.55. According to the latest entry information available, 18 spots were open for the men's 3m preliminaries on Friday.
Yesterday, ASU women's diver Trisha Tumlinson missed qualifying for the 3-meter springboard after scoring a 166.30 and finishing 28th. Tumlinson is still in the competition, as she received an automatic invitation to compete in Friday's platform competition by virtue of her fourth-place finish at the 2002 Senior Nationals on platform.
Puhakka will begin his preliminary competition at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, while Tumlinson starts at 12:30 p.m., both times local.