University divers Paige Brown and Hali Saucier advanced to the U.S. Diving National Championships this weekend.
Saucier and Brown finished four and fifth, respectively, in the platform event at the Zone C Midwest Championships, which were held at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
“They did a great job and competed very well,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer in a news release. “It is a remarkable and outstanding feat given the fact that they have been diving platform for only a year now. To qualify for the national championships is an awesome experience.”
Saucier also qualified for the national championships in the 1-meter springboard competition Friday with a second-place score of 418.50.
“It’s a remarkable achievement for Hali,” said Shaffer. “She competed well and earned her first qualification at the national level.”
The national championships begin Aug. 9 in Huntersville, N.C.
Saucier will be a junior this fall, and Brown will be a sophomore.
University divers are not the only athletes competing internationally.
University swimmer Heather Brand will compete at the 2005 FINA World Championships July 24-31 in Montreal, Canada.
Brand is a native of Harare, Zimbabwe and will represent her country at the event.
She will compete in the 100-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly and the 50-meter freestyle.
“This is the top-of-the-top competition,” Brand said in a news release. “I hope this experience will bring bigger and better things for the team and the upcoming season. I am really focused in on the 50 and 100 fly. My goal is to make the semifinals.”
Brand was a team captain for the Tigers last season, and she will be a senior this fall.
She was the only Lady Tiger to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
“Adam has coached us to compete on an international level and at several world events,” Brand said of swimming coach Adam Schmitt. “He has shown me how to be a true athlete, and he’s done great things for the team. He has a plan for the future and a positive approach to where this program is heading.”
Schmitt said he is confident in Brand’s abilities at the world championships.
“It is exciting for her to see where she stands in the world,” Schmitt said. “This is certainly a great experience for her to bring back to the team. Heather is a great representative of LSU, and she will bring attention to the program at an international level.”