Hogs open SECs with three meter

GAINESVILLE, Fla.– The Arkansas diving team opened the 2011 edition of the Southeastern Conference Championships with the preliminary round of the three-meter diving at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

For the first time under the current coaching staff, three of the four divers scored in day one of the SEC Championships. Junior Alex Roman finished 11th on the three-meter board with a score of 294.10. Liana Bugslag placed 14th among her conference opponents.

"I was pleased with the way Alex (Roman) and Liana (Bugslag) performed today on the three meter," diving coach Dale Schultz said. "They have both improved greatly over the past two years.

Freshman Kesha Naylor came into the event fourth in the conference, but finished 13th, overall. Her score of 274.90 was just behind Tennessee’s Gabrielle Trudeau.

"Kesha (Naylor) struggled today, but that can happen with a freshman in a meet of this magnitude," Schultz said. "I’m really looking forward to the next two days. Tomorrow is the one meter and it’s a chance for Kesha to rebound."

The divers hit the one meter Saturday with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. at the Stephen C. O’connell Center.

Women’s Team Scores after Day One

1. Florida 392. Auburn 333. Kentucky 154. Alabama 14.55. South Carolina 146. Arkansas 137. LSU 12.58. Georgia 99. Tennessee 5