INDIANAPOLIS – Kristian Ipsen (Clayton, Calif./Stanford, Calif.) became a two-time Olympian, while Michael Hixon (Amherst, Mass./Bloomington, Ind.) and Jessica Parratto (Dover, N.H./Bloomington, Ind.) added another event to their Rio 2016 Olympic Games schedules. Additionally, Katrina Young (Shoreline, Wash./Tallahassee, Fla.) became a first-time Olympian as the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving continued Saturday.
Ipsen won the men’s 3-meter event, with Hixon finishing second. Parratto was first in women’s 10-meter, and Young qualified second on that event.
Ipsen, who represented the U.S. in synchronized 3-meter at the 2012 Olympics, won the men’s 3-meter contest with 1452.75 points to earn an individual spot for 2016.
As in 2012, Ipsen led heading into the finals, but unlike four years ago, he hit all six dives in the finals to build his lead and secure his spot on the 2016 team. He finished third individually at the 2012 trials.
“I kept replaying that whole day in my head for the last two days, because we had a two-day break. The last time I went into this competition I had a lead. It wasn’t as big of a lead, but I knew that crazy things can happen in these finals. It’s stressful and an emotional environment. I’m happy that I stayed consistent and didn’t do anything crazy under pressure,” Ipsen said.
Ipsen used a list he was comfortable with in the finals but said he is going to continue working on two harder dives as the Olympic Games approach.
“I did the list that I feel really comfortable with, an easier list, but I’m going to be working on two harder dives. Two that I had planned on using here, in case I needed them, a front four and a half and a triple out. Hopefully at the Olympics I can use those two bigger dives to try to push for a medal,” Ipsen said.
Hixon, who earlier in the week qualified for the Games in synchronized 3-meter, finished second individually with 1385.45 points to qualify for a second event. He was comfortably in second place heading into the finals but missed his fourth dive before coming back to score more than 90 points on his last two dives.
“I obviously wasn’t really pleased with my performance. It’s six dives, and I missed one pretty badly. But I thought the way I came back was really important for how we’re going to move into Rio. Hitting the front four and a half for 90 and the 95 on inward was definitely what I want in a comeback. So there are things to definitely be happy about in this,” Hixon said.
Hixon’s synchro partner Sam Dorman (Tempe, Ariz./Miami, Fla.) was third in the men’s 3-meter final at 1300.15, and four-time Olympian Troy Dumais (Ventura, Calif./Austin, Texas) finished fourth with 1287.40 points and afterwards announced he was retiring from competitive diving. Dumais, who at 36 was looking to make history by becoming the first U.S. diver to make five Olympic Teams, received a standing ovation before his final dive.
“What a way to go out. It’s been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The standing ovation in front of my family, seeing my family after I did the dive; I haven’t stopped crying since I was on the board,” Dumais said. “But competitively, yes, it’s a dive that I’ll always remember in my mind. Seeing the people, it was actually hard to do. I enjoyed every moment of it.”
Parratto had already qualified in women’s synchronized 10-meter and added the individual event to her Olympic Games schedule after winning the 10-meter trials with 1030.50 points. Still, she missed her armstand in the finals and knows there is room for improvement.
“I wasn’t super happy with how the final went, just a little flat. But it’s been a long week, and consistency is the name of the game. That is a huge thing for me, I always want to be that consistent diver in the field. At the end of the day, I’m going to the Olympics in two different events, so I cannot be disappointed about that,” Parratto said.
Young was fourth – 25.6 points out of second – heading into the finals and put forth a consistent effort to finish second with 982.10 points while others ahead of her missed several dives.
“It feels great. It hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s been a lifelong goal since I was young. I did gymnastics and diving and put a lot of hard work into it, and really was able to let myself feel ready to go and trust my training. I’m very happy,” Young said.
Young scored 67.65 or more points on all five dives in the finals, including 76.80 points on her last dive.
“I feel good about it. I’ve been diving like that at home, and it’s been about competing and doing the dives when it matters. I’ve learned to dive now and I’m learning to compete. I really feel like I’m getting a solid grasp on that. I’m happy to see it come together,” Young said.
Samantha Bromberg (Bexley, Ohio/Austin, Texas) and Amy Cozad (Indianapolis, Ind./Bloomington, Ind.) were second and third heading into the finals, but missed dives late in the contest to drop to third and fourth with 958.40 and 937.25 points, respectively.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving conclude Sunday with finals in women’s 3-meter and men’s 10-meter.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving
Results
Men’s 3-meter
1.Kristian Ipsen (Stanford Diving), 1452.75;2. Michael Hixon (TriSynerG Diving Academy), 1385.45;3. Samuel Dorman (Miami Diving), 1300.15;4. Troy Dumais (Longhorn Aquatics), 1287.40;5. Mark Anderson (Longhorn Aquatics), 1258.00;6. Zachary Nees (Penn State Diving), 1250.25;7. Briadam Herrera (University of Miami), 1224.65;8. Dashiell Enos (University of Southern California), 1161.55;9. Grayson Campbell (Dominion Dive Club), 1147.10;10. Aaron Fleshner (Alabama Diving), 1138.50;11. Dylan Zoe (Unattached), 1097.15;12. Joseph Cifelli (Purdue University), 1090.15.
Women’s 10-meter
- Jessica Parratto (TriSynerG Diving Academy), 1030.05;2. Katrina Young (Unattached), 982.10;3. Samantha Bromberg (Longhorn Aquatics), 958.40;4. Amy Cozad (TriSynerG Diving Academy), 937.25;5. Lisa Faulkner (YCF Diving Team), 926.70;6. Delaney Schnell (Tucson Diving Team), 924.10;7. Tarrin Gilliland (City of Midland), 882.15;8. Victoria Lamp (Schroeder Diving Team), 862.30;9. Krysta Palmer (Nevada Diving Club), 855.75;10. MacKenzie Tweardy (Purdue University), 814.30;11. Kahley Rowell (Unattached), 796.65;12. Camryn Hidalgo (Mission Viejo), 737.40.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Diving.