University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, March 9
11:00 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
NCAA Zone D Diving Championships
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Photo by: www.WaltMiddletonphoto.com
Bennett, Del Angel Qualify for NCAAs on Platform
3/9/2023 4:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – Thursday's move to the platform resulted in two more NCAA qualifiers for the Minnesota diving programs on the final day of the Zone D Diving Championships at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
Freshman Drew Bennett clinched his first ticket to the NCAAs, while fellow freshman Vivi Del Angel qualified for her second event as she took the platform title.
Bennett was second through the prelims with a career-best score of 385.60. That was also good for 10th on Minnesota's all-time list. He posted a 58.00 or better on all six dives, including four of at least 63.00 and a high of 73.60 on his sixth and final attempt.
In the finals, he posted a score of 378.45 for a 12-dive total of 764.05. Needing to finish in the top five to qualify for NCAAs, Bennett finished third to become the first Gopher male to earn a spot on the platform at the championships since Alan LeBlang and Jeremy Moser in 2019.
Del Angel, who qualified for the 1-meter on Wednesday, dominated the competition Thursday. She breezed through the prelims with the top score and career-high mark of 360.65. She was over 43 points ahead of second place as she averaged 72.13 on her dives. In the finals, she put even more distance between herself and the field. Her score of 357.45 gave her a 10-dive total of 718.10, more than 92 points ahead of her next competitor.
Sophomore Kate LaMonica also reached the platform finals. She was 14th after the prelims thanks to her score of 222.80 and moved up to 13th as she improved in the finals with a season-best effort of 228.90.
In the prelims, junior Megan Phillip finished 21st with a score of 203.75.
The swimming and diving season concludes with the NCAA Championships. The women's will be held in Knoxville, Tenn., from March 15-18, while the men's will be in Minneapolis, March 22-25.
Freshman Drew Bennett clinched his first ticket to the NCAAs, while fellow freshman Vivi Del Angel qualified for her second event as she took the platform title.
Bennett was second through the prelims with a career-best score of 385.60. That was also good for 10th on Minnesota's all-time list. He posted a 58.00 or better on all six dives, including four of at least 63.00 and a high of 73.60 on his sixth and final attempt.
In the finals, he posted a score of 378.45 for a 12-dive total of 764.05. Needing to finish in the top five to qualify for NCAAs, Bennett finished third to become the first Gopher male to earn a spot on the platform at the championships since Alan LeBlang and Jeremy Moser in 2019.
Del Angel, who qualified for the 1-meter on Wednesday, dominated the competition Thursday. She breezed through the prelims with the top score and career-high mark of 360.65. She was over 43 points ahead of second place as she averaged 72.13 on her dives. In the finals, she put even more distance between herself and the field. Her score of 357.45 gave her a 10-dive total of 718.10, more than 92 points ahead of her next competitor.
Sophomore Kate LaMonica also reached the platform finals. She was 14th after the prelims thanks to her score of 222.80 and moved up to 13th as she improved in the finals with a season-best effort of 228.90.
In the prelims, junior Megan Phillip finished 21st with a score of 203.75.
The swimming and diving season concludes with the NCAA Championships. The women's will be held in Knoxville, Tenn., from March 15-18, while the men's will be in Minneapolis, March 22-25.
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