August 9, 2007

Speedo Junior National Championships: Ipsen completes sweep; Cabassol picks up second win; Cook, Johnson win first titles
 
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. –Kristian Ipsen (Clayton, Calif.) completed the sweep by winning his third title of the week, and Michelle Cabassol (Montgomery, Texas) won her second title at the Speedo Junior National Championships on Thursday. Other winners Thursday were Kassidy Cook (The Woodlands, Texas) and Steele Johnson (Carmel, Ind.).

Ipsen concluded his competition by winning the boys 14-15 1-meter event for his third title this week and 11 th of his career. It was the second time he’d won all three titles in a year, having also swept the field as a 13-under diver in 2005.

Ipsen scored 480.65 points in his latest win, while Connor Kuremsky (Wexford, Pa.) picked up the silver with 369.70 points. David Bonuchi (Columbia, Mo.), who had already won two silvers, was third at 362.10, followed by Michael Mosca (Tenafly, N.J.) at 346.55 and Christian Holstein (Columbus, Ohio) at 343.60.

“It wasn’t a goal to win all three titles. It was a goal to meet the expectations I set to hit certain dives the way I wanted to, and I did,” Ipsen said. “I’m really pleased. As you look back, there’s always something you can change, but I dove solid throughout the week.”

Cabassol , who won a title on platform on Tuesday, scored 373.20 points Thursday for the girls 14-15 win. She finished just ahead of teammate Kaylea Arnett (Spring, Texas), who took second with 371.30 points, while Loren Figueroa (Kingwood, Texas) earned bronze with 358.70 points. A pair of Crown Valley Divers rounded out the top five, with Haley McNamara (Mission Viejo, Calif.) taking fourth with 358.35 points and Kelly Markle (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) scoring 327.30 for fifth.

“It’s been great. It really hasn’t clicked that I’m a national champion. I don’t know what to say. I’ve worked so hard, and I’m just loving it,” Cabassol said.

Thursday was the first day of competition for the 13-under divers, and Cook squeaked out a close win in the girls 1-meter contest. She beat Rebecca Hamperian (Lexington, Ky.) by less than a point, 277.65-276.80.

“It was pretty close. I was shaking and really nervous. I knew I had to get 7s and 7.5s to win,” Cook said. “I had a bad hurdle, but I got it off. It feels really good to get my first national championship.”

Lauren Hall (Duluth, Ga.) scored 254.45 to pick up the bronze, and Mary Ann McCain (Ballwin, Mo.) was a close fourth at 254.05. Lilly Hinrichs ( Lincoln, Neb.) scored 252.10 for fifth.

In the boys 13-under contest, Johnson, who at 11 was one of the youngest divers in the field, claimed gold with 304.55 points. Bryce Klein (Southlake, Texas) scored 287.95 for silver, and Dashiell Enos (Studio City, Calif.) won the bronze with 281.85 points. Bradley Christensen (Southlake, Texas) posted 278.15 points for fourth, and Timothy Faerber (Potomac, Md.) was fifth with 275.15 points.

“I’m pretty excited. I’ve been working hard all year,” said Johnson, who was 10 th on 3-meter a year ago. “My goal was to break 300, and I got 304 points.”

The Speedo Junior National Championships continue through August 11.

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