ATLANTA – Purdue’s Max Miller finished 14th among a field of 51 in 3-meter diving to earn his fourth career All-America honor while scoring on a springboard for the third consecutive year at the NCAA Championships.
The Boilermakers were represented by five divers on 3-meter Friday, their most entries of any event this week at the national championship meet. Miller (371.30 list score) finished strong with an award of 80.50 on his final dive of the prelim to move up into the top-16 scoring portion of the leaderboard. The junior was also an honorable mention All-American on both springboards last season as well as 1-meter in 2024.
Tyler Wills (369.40 list score) finished just four tenths of a point (0.40) shy of a top-16 finish and his first career All-America honor. He placed 17th, matching his best career finish at NCAAs so far as a sophomore. NCAA bronze medalist Kaden Springfield and Wills (a two-time Big Ten medalist) headline Purdue’s four entries on platform Saturday at NCAAs. Nathaniel Grannis (31st) and Holden Higbie (49th) will join them on the tower after also competing on 3-meter Friday.
For the second day in a row at NCAAs, Evan Mackesy eclipsed a Purdue record time entering the season. Friday, the sophomore’s time of 4:17.58 in the 500 freestyle was better than the team record (4:18.43) that had stood since 2018. Mackesy set the current benchmark (4:14.85) at the Big Ten Championships last month. He was 32nd in the prelims Friday.
With 10 points, the Boilermakers are in 35th place in the team scoring. After Zach Welsh finished 10th on 1-meter Thursday for his first career All-America honor, Purdue has an opportunity to have an All-American in all three diving events for the second year in a row and fourth time this decade.
FRIDAY AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
3-Meter Diving
• Max Miller, 371.30 – Finished 14th in Prelim (3 Points); Honorable Mention All-America
• Tyler Wills, 369.40 – Finished 17th in Prelim
• Zach Welsh, 332.35 – Finished 29th in Prelim
• Nathaniel Grannis, 326.05 – Finished 31st in Prelim
• Holden Higbie, 277.85 – Finished 49th in Prelim
500 Free
• Evan Mackesy, 4:17.58 – Finished 32nd in Prelim
PURDUE’S REMAINING SCHEDULE IN ATLANTA
All Start Times Approximate
Saturday, March 28
• 200 IM (Mackesy) – First Prelim Heat at 10 a.m., Final at 6 p.m.
• Platform Diving (Grannis, Higbie, Springfield, Wills) – Prelim at 12 p.m.; Final: Rounds 1-3 at 6:25 p.m., Rounds 4-6 at 7:08 p.m.
