DALLAS - Purdue divers Steele Johnson, Brandon Loschiavo, Emily Bretscher and Morgan Meixner are competing this week at USA Diving's premier meet of the year, the Senior National Championships at SMU's Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center.
Bretscher (251.30) and Meixner (243.45) placed first and third on 1-meter among a field of 40 divers in the national qualifier held on May 10. Bretscher (232.65) also advanced on 3-meter by placing sixth among a qualifier field of 42. Women's events traditionally feature five-dive lists at USA Diving and international meets.
Johnson and Loschiavo were automatic qualifiers. They'll compete together in synchronized 10-meter after winning bronze at the FINA Diving World Series meet last month in Montreal. Individually, Johnson is slated to compete on 3-meter and Loschiavo 10-meter.
USA Diving's qualifiers for the FINA World Cup will be determined this week. The FINA Diving World Cup is the premier international competition of 2018. It is slated for June 5 to 10 in Wuhan, China. Cumulative scores will be used to determine USA Diving's two qualifiers in the individual events. Only the top-scoring synchro team earns a bid. However, the champion of each event will be the top scorer in the final.
Johnson, Loschiavo, Bretscher and Meixner all represented Purdue at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Johnson was the Big Ten and NCAA champion on 3-meter. Loschiavo won a Big Ten title on 10-meter. Meixner was an honorable mention All-American on 1-meter.
With USA Diving, Johnson is a 12-time senior national champion. He has won titles in three different events, including 3-meter at the 2016 Winter Nationals. Johnson and Loschiavo also won the synchronized 10-meter title together at the 2017 USA Diving Synchronized National Championships.
PURDUE SCHEDULE AT USA DIVING SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Monday, May 14
Women's 1-Meter -- Emily Bretscher, Morgan Meixner
Semifinal at 1:45 p.m. ET (Top 8 Advance)
Final at 8:10 p.m. ET -- Bretscher 3rd, Meixner 6th
Tuesday, May 15
Men's 3-Meter -- Steele Johnson
Prelims at 11 a.m. ET (Top 18 Advance)
Semifinal at 5 p.m. ET (Top 12 Advance)
Wednesday, May 16
Women's 3-Meter -- Emily Bretscher
Prelims at 11 a.m. ET (Top 18 Advance)
Semifinal at 5 p.m. ET (Top 12 Advance)
Men's 10-Meter -- Brandon Loschiavo
Prelims at 11 a.m. ET (All Divers Advance)
Semifinal at 6:15 p.m. ET (Top 12 Advance)
Friday, May 18
Men's 10-Meter Synchro -- Steele Johnson and Brandon Loschiavo
Semifinal at 11 a.m. ET (All Teams Advance)
Final at 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 19
Men's 3-Meter Final at 3:40 p.m. ET -- Steele Johnson
Sunday, May 20
Men's 10-Meter Final at 1 p.m. ET -- Brandon Loschiavo
Women's 3-Meter Final at 2:40 p.m. ET -- Emily Bretscher