By Jordan Parry, SDA Media Relations
COLORADO SPRINGS -- Arizona State senior Hailey Casper has qualified for NCAA Championships after winning the 3-meter finals from the first day of Zone E Qualifying in Colorado Springs, Colo. Casper will advance to NCAAs for her third-consecutive year, aiming to end her time and leave Arizona State as a NCAA champion.
Last month, Casper competed in the Canadian Diving Winter Nationals, finishing in second place nationally in the 3-meter, moving her one step closer to her goal of making the Olympic team. She entered this week's events as one of the favorites to move on to NCAAs, and she did just that, trouncing the field by scoring 20 points higher than the next ranking competitor.
Casper averaged a final round score of 58.35, awhile amassing an overall score of 672.30 to cap off her brilliant set of dives and the No. 1 spot. Samantha Pickens of Arizona finished second with a score of 652.90, showing just how dominant of a performance Casper displayed on Monday afternoon.
"Hailey was particularly strong in the final," Head Coach Mark Bradshaw said. "It was absolutely great to see because it was an unusually long and grueling five-hour event."
As a freshman, platform specialist Mara Aiacoboae got her first action in Zone Qualifying, but she wasn't about ready to step down to her veteran competition. Aiacoboae totaled a score of 308.40 in the 3-meter prelims, good enough for eighth place out of 55 total divers, making her the second Sun Devil to enter the final field of 18 for the championship round. In the finals, she notched a 10th-place finish with a score of 587.90, exemplifying just how hard she trained all year long to put herself in this position.
Not just one freshman shone under the spotlight, as back-to-back Pac-12 Diver of the Month David Hoffer recorded a 11th-place result in the men's 1-meter final, becoming the third Sun Devil to reach the finals on the first day of competition out of three. Hoffer accumulated an overall score of 645 points.
"Mara and David competed very well today," Bradshaw explained. "They kept themselves viable for NCAA at-large bids with still two full days of qualifying left."
Zone E Qualifying is taking place at the United State Air Force Academy, where the Sun Devils competed in USAFA Diving Invitational Jan. 30-31. If Monday can show a glimpse, having experience at the venue could pay dividends for the Devils as they compete in hopes of making it to NCAAs.
On Tuesday, Mar. 10, women are set to compete in the 1-meter, and the men in the 3-meter. On Wednesday, Mar. 11, competition comes to a close with the platform event for both men and women.