Naylor finals, divers out of NCAA Championship

AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Arkansas divers wrap up the 2010-11 season without anyone earning a berth to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships after the Razorbacks struggled to qualify at the NCAA Zone ‘D Diving Championships at the University of Texas.

Freshman Kesha Naylor made the finals in the platform competition on Sunday, but her 10-dive two-round score of 467.20 was enough to place 10th overall, but not earn a spot in the NCAA Championship meet.

"Naylor dove strong today," diving coach Dale Schultz said. "The competition level was outstanding. Our divers would have had to break the school record twice in order to make it in the top three. We started off really strong this weekend and just tired out as the week went on."

The top three places on platform earned a spot at the national meet.

Naylor scored 241.80 during the preliminary round to move into finals, while junior Alex Roman finish 17th with 212.50. Fellow junior Liana Bugslag was 21st overall with 182.85.

Texas’ Shelby Cullinan topped the platform competition with a two-round score of 593.05. Maren Taylor of Texas and Julia Lonnegren of Houston also qualified for NCAAs.

"We had great improvement this year," Schultz said. "Each of the girls improved on at least one board and the addition of Kesha this year brought everyone’s competition level up."

The Razorbacks will send two swimmers, Chelsea Franklin and Jamie Marks, to the NCAA meet in Austin, Texas. Day one of the national competition begins Thursday, March 17.

Download: platform results.pdf