University of Houston
NCAA Zone Diving Championship
Almazan, Kiess Place 1-2 at NCAA Zone Diving Meet
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
March 12, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - University of Houston divers Azul Almazan and Anna Kiess placed 1-2, respectively, on the 3-meter springboard during the first day of competition Friday at the 2005 NCAA Zone D Diving Championship, hosted by Texas A&M at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium.
Both divers qualified for the 2005 NCAA Championships - hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. - starting March 17.
Almazan won her second NCAA Zone D Diving championship by earning 509.80 points, only 0.60 points ahead of her teammate Kiess. A year ago, the Mexico City, Mexico, native captured the platform championship at the 2004 NCAA Zone D meet.
Both Almazan and Kiess were the only divers to crack the 500-point plateau. Almazan qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive season, while Kiess will compete at the nation's top collegiate meet for the second straight season.
Almazan staged an impressive comeback to win her second Zone meet championship. Kiess grabbed the early lead in the preliminaries after tallying 308.30 points, making her the only diver to score more than 300 points in that stage. Almazan was a distant second with 296.85 points in the preliminaries.
Almazan and Kiess were only half of the Cougar divers competing at the Zone meet. Sophomore Rachel Gitelson finished 10th with 409.45 points, while junior Stephanie Mannella placed 18th with 343.90 points.
The meet continues at 11 a.m., Saturday with the 1-meter competition at 11 a.m. before wrapping up at 11 a.m., Sunday with the platform competition. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students or children and will be available at the door. One ticket is good for admission for the entire day of competition.
Players Mentioned
