The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Zone Diving Meet
Taylor, Cullinan qualify for NCAA Championships
03.11.2013 | Women's Swimming and Diving
March 11, 2013
HOUSTON - Texas redshirt junior diver Maren Taylor and fifth-year senior diver Shelby Cullinan claimed the only two NCAA Championships berths available Monday evening in the first session of the NCAA Zone "D" Diving Meet at The University of Houston.
The first- and second-place finishers in Monday's women's three-meter diving event were assured of NCAA Championships berths, and Taylor and Cullinan secured the berths to compete in next week's national meet. Taylor won the event with 709.60 points to nail down her third NCAA Championships berth in as many tries. The All-American took a medical redshirt last season after dislocating her right elbow at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Austin.
Cullinan narrowly secured the second NCAA Championships berth up for grabs Monday with her second-place total of 662.90. Cullinan beat out LSU's Cassie Weil for second place by a mere two-tenths of a point. Cullinan made the first of her soon-to-be four NCAA Championships appearances back in 2009 as a true freshman, when she earned All-America honors in the three-meter and platform events.
Senior Diana Wilcox placed 10th with 591.15 points, and senior Samantha Holland placed 32nd with 249.50 points. Freshman Kristina Hoffmann withdrew from the three-meter competition.
The NCAA Zone "D" Diving Meet continues Tuesday in Houston. Divers may earn a NCAA Championships berth by placing first or second in Tuesday's one-meter event.
