GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Mary Beth Dunnichay finished second in synchronized 10-meter with partner Delaney Schnell at the inaugural USA Diving Synchronized National Championships Saturday to earn a berth at the Pan Am Games this summer in Toronto.
David Boudia and Steele Johnson won the men's synchronized 10-meter national title Sunday Championships to earn a berth to the FINA World Championships this summer in Russia.
Dunnichay and Schnell took a five-point lead into the finals, but Jessica Parratto and Amy Cozad rallied to win the national title. However, Dunnichay and Schnell will have an opportunity to represent USA Diving in 10-meter synchro at the Pan Am Games, July 10-26 in Toronto.
Dunnichay was a 2008 Olympian in 10-meter synchro as a 15-year-old. After injuries limited her to the springboard events in her first two seasons as a Boilermaker, she began competing again from the platforms in 2015.
Boudia and Johnson dominated the 10-meter synchro contest with 950.46 points. Their reverse 3 1/2 tuck in the prelims earned 100.98 points, having received 10s from seven of the 11 judges. They did the dive even better in the final, when nine judges awarded them 10s for 102 points. They also received eight 10s on their inward 3 1/2 tuck and six 10s on their inward dive pike in the finals.
"I think having the combined Synchro Nationals and not having the seniors and juniors at separate events was great. It was really exciting to be alongside a 13-year-old who might look up to you, and hopefully I could encourage some of the younger divers," Boudia said. "It was a really fun atmosphere to be in with all these people who love the sport. This was a good start to the season for me and Steele. We were excited to dive as well as we did and qualify for the World Championships. We've got some work to do, but I think we're in a great position."
Boudia and Johnson won bronze together in synchronized 10-meter at the 2014 FINA Diving World Cup last summer. They will also complete individually on 10-meter next month at USA Diving's World Championship Trials, set for May 15-17 in Bloomington, Ind.
Boudia, Johnson and Dunnichay are also scheduled to compete in upcoming FINA Diving World Series meets next month in England, Canada and Mexico.
.@jessicaparratto and Amy Cozad qualify for World Championships after winning 10m synchro title. pic.twitter.com/JLR7t1trXS
-- USA Diving (@USADiving) April 11, 2015
Abby Johnston and Laura Ryan qualified for the World Championships in women's synchronized 3-meter after winning their second national title together Sunday.
Zach Cooper and Ryan Hawkins were second in the men's synchronized 10-meter Sunday with 759.03 points.
Johnston and Ryan finished the women's 3-meter synchro final with 626.40 points over two lists of dives to earn the World Championships berth and the national title. They led by 15.9 after the preliminaries and extended their lead with a strong performance in the finals, with all three of their optional dives scoring more than 70 points. Their best dive came in round four, when their inward 2 1/2 pike received 75.60 points.
"Today went really well. The score for our optionals on our second list was one of our highest ever, so that was a good showing for us and gives us a lot of confidence going into World Championships," said Johnston, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist in synchronized 3-meter.
Johnston and Ryan finished fifth in a FINA Grand Prix meet in Mexico last week, and Ryan felt that meet helped prepare them for nationals.
In all, 16 national titles were awarded at the inaugural Synchronized National Championships. The meet determined the U.S. rosters in synchronized events for the World Championships and the Junior Pan American Championships. The nationals will also determine the U.S. team for the Pan American Games, although that team will not be finalized until after next month's individual World Championships trials, which are set for May 15-17 in Bloomington, Ind.
-- Story by Jen Lowery, USA Diving
Receive Purdue Women's Swimming & Diving news via email. Sign up HERE (it works now, we promise).
2015 FINA Diving World Series - Team USA Rosters
May 1-3 - London, Great Britain
Men's synchronized 3-meter - Bryce Klein and Bradley Christensen
Men's synchronized 10-meter - David Dinsmore and Jordan Windle
Women's synchronized 10-meter - Mary Beth Dunnichay and Delaney Schnell
May 22-24 - Windsor, Canada
Men's 10-meter - David Boudia
Men's synchronized 3-meter - Sam Dorman and Troy Dumais
Men's synchronized 10-meter - David Boudia and Steele Johnson
May 29-31 - Mexico City, Mexico
Men's 10-meter - David Boudia
Men's synchronized 3-meter - Sam Dorman and Kristian Ipsen
Men's synchronized 10-meter - David Boudia and Steele Johnson