Duke Finishes At NCAA Zones, Johnston Bound For NCAA Championships

Sunday, March 15

Knoxville, Tenn.

All Day

Duke University

Day Three

Duke Finishes At NCAA Zones, Johnston Bound For NCAA Championships

3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving

By: Duke Sports Information

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? The Blue Devil men's and women's divers concluded competition Sunday afternoon at the 2009 NCAA Zone B Championships, with freshman Shawn Hoffman and junior Julie Brummond representing Duke today on the platform at the University of Tennessee.

Hoffman took 20th in today's prelims with his six-dive score of 233.90, while Brummond finished 23rd in prelims with her 173.95.

Entering today's event, Duke freshmen Jessica Lyden had been on the bubble as a qualifier for the NCAA Championships next week, but because today's top three finishers in the women's platform had not yet qualified and earned automatic bids, Lyden remains the first alternate for the national meet.

The top 10 women and the top 11 men earn bids to NCAAs, and once an athlete has qualified, he or she may compete in any event they competed in during the Zone meet.

“It was a great freshman year for Jessica, and we were just one step away,” said diving coach Drew Johansen. “Overall, this was great experience for the whole team. There are a lot of different strategies in NCAA diving. Our four freshmen learned a lot and will know what they are chasing when they get here next year.”

Duke's Abby Johnston ? the 2009 ACC champion and NCAA Zone B champion on the three-meter springboard ? will represent the Blue Devils next week at NCAAs in College Station, Texas. Johnston advances in the three-meter competition but will also compete on the one-meter there.

The 2009 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships are slated for March 19-21 at Texas A&M's Student Rec Center Natatorium in College Station. The one and three meter events will take place Thursday and Friday. Johnston joins Duke sophomore freestyler Ashley Twichell, who will advance to NCAAs in the 1650 and 500 free.

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