March 21, 2006
ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Carrie McCambridge earned a fourth-straight All-America title Thursday during the opening night of competition at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. The Lewis Center, Ohio, native placed fourth off the 1-meter springboard with 318.65 points.
"She maintained her consistency through both sessions; she was very solid," said head coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "On every single dive tonight, she was earning anywhere from 6.5 to 8.0 points from all the judges. (Diving Coach) Adam (Soldati) and I very proud of her, because there is very little room for error diving off the 1-meter ."
Blythe Hartley of USC won the 1-meter title with 353.50 points, and Alison Brennan of South Carolina was a distant second with 326.10 points. Last year's champion, Qiong Jie Huang of Hawaii, was third with 324.05 points. At last year's NCAA Championship meet, held at Purdue, McCambridge earned the first All-America citation of her career with a fifth-place score of 314.40 points.
"I was very proud of Carrie tonight, she battled like a seasoned veteran," added Soldati.
Earlier today during the morning prelim session, Erica Chandler was 37th in the 500 freestyle with a mark of 4:51.68 and Amanda Miller was 37th off the 1-meter with 228.65 points. Miller's chance to advance to finals was hindered due to a balk.
Friday, Chandler will compete in the 400 individual medley, Carlene Takaki will race in the 100 butterfly and McCambridge and Miller dive off the 3-meter springboard. Prelims begin at 11 a.m. and finals start at 7 p.m.