University of Minnesota Athletics
Kelci Bryant Wins National Title in 3-Meter Diving
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Minnesota sophomore Kelci Bryant captured the national title in the 3-meter diving event at the 2010 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday, Bryant is the second NCAA champion in Gopher women’s swimming and diving history.
Bryant, a native of Chatham, Ill., smashed her own school record compiling 415.50 points, besting the 400-point mark for the first time in her career (previous record – 394.45). Consistently scoring 7.5’s and 8.0’s in her first five dives, Bryant hit it big on her final dive - a forward 2 1/2 somersault 1 twist pike with a 3.0 degree of difficulty – scoring 72.00 to ice the title. The national runner-up in 1-meter diving on Thursday, Bryant headed into the 3m final placed fourth after the preliminary round.
Bryant joins the elite in Golden Gopher history. The first NCAA champion was Gretchen Hegener in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1997. Chris Curry won the first national title in Gopher history, winning the AIAW 3-meter diving crown in 1981.
“It’s my first NCAA meet, my first full college season, my first year at a new school," Bryant said. "It’s really exciting. I had a tough day yesterday but I broke the pool record today and it feels awesome.”
Junior Jillian Tyler collected her third career All-America First Team honor in the 100-yard breaststroke placing fourth in a time of 59.62. Tyler, a native of Calgary, Alberta, helped the Gopher medley relay to honorable mention All-America claim on Thursday.
Haley Spencer, a freshman from O’Fallon, Minn., captured her first career national accolade swimming to honorable mention All-America status in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.91 to place 10th overall. She swam a season-best time of 1:00.65 in the preliminary round.
The Gophers' 800 freestyle relay team of Hannah Whitehead, Ashley Steenvoorden, Megan Braun and Marissa Davies picked up All-America honors by placing 12th in a time of 7:10.85.
Minnesota heads into the third and final day of the NCAA Championships in 11th place with 79 points. Stanford leads with 266.50, holding a slim lead over Georgia, Arizona and California.
Players Mentioned
