March 12, 2004
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Carrie McCambridge captured third place off the one-meter springboard Friday at the NCAA Central Regional Diving Zones, clinching a spot for next week's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
McCambridge finished with a score of 530.55, which was five points behind runner-up Tealin Keleman of Michigan (535.35). Notre Dame's Meghan Perry-Eaton won the one-meter title with a 564.30.
The sophomore from Lewis Center, Ohio, has had a phenomenal postseason. In addition to Friday's bronze-medal showing, McCambridge won all three diving titles at the Big Ten Championships, picking up Diver of the Year and Diver of the Championships honors.
Freshman Amanda Miller produced a solid sixth-place finish, scoring a career-best mark of 517.65. Since there are only 11 spots open to Zone 'C' female divers, Miller is on the proverbial bubble for joining McCambridge at NCAA's. She will need to finish strong off the three-meter on Saturday and platform on Sunday to make sure she secures her spot at the Texas A&M Natatorium.
On the men's side, junior Clayton Davis led the Boilermakers with an eighth-place score of 460.20 off the three-meter. Sophomore J.R. Hillis placed 10th at 443.25 and Josh Karshen took 14th with a 425.05. Since Zone 'C' is only guaranteed six spots at the NCAA Championships, Purdue's diving trio will need to win the one-meter or platform competitions.
Zone diving continues Saturday at noon with the men competing off the one-meter, and the women off the three-meter. The men and women will both compete of the platform tower Sunday at 11 a.m.
The NCAA Women's Champions begin Thursday, March 18 at Texas A&M University, and the men's championships begin the following week on Long Island.