14-15, 16-18 age groups start competition at 2022 USA Diving Junior National Championships
by USA Diving
Competition in the 14-15 and 16-18 age groups kicked off with four preliminary events Thursday at the 2022 USA Diving Junior National Championships at COM Aquatics in Midland, Texas.
The top six divers in each preliminary advanced to the semifinals, where they will be joined by divers who qualified directly into the semis based on results at Zone Championships.
Chloe Wong of Pacific Diving Academy was the top finisher in the girls 14-15 3-meter preliminary, with Aoi Kondo of Alpha Diving advancing in second place.
Maria Carolina Fauro of Dallas Metroplex Diving qualified first in the girls’ 16-18 1-meter preliminary, and Rachel Dickerson of GC Diving took second.
Edwin Odom of Tennessee Diving was the top qualifier out of the 14-15 boys’ platform preliminary. Michael Evans of Dallas Metroplex Diving finished second.
Christian Erikson of GC Diving led the boys’ 16-18 1-meter preliminary. Three divers from the Alexandria Dive Club – Matthew Bray, Finnian Gelbach and Jacob Fisher – also finished among the top six to earn their spots in the semifinals.
The corresponding semifinals and finals for Thursday’s preliminary events will take place Sunday, July 31.
Preliminaries in 14-15 girls’ 1-meter, 14-15 boys’ 3-meter, 16-18 girls’ platform and 16-18 boys’ 3-meter are set for Friday. The 2022 USA Diving Junior National Championships continue through August 2.