Hayden/Verzyl and Hedberg/Tyler Win Synchro Titles on Final Day of 2026 National Championships
2026 National Championships Women's 3-Meter Synchro Medalists: Gold, Verzyl/Hayden; Silver, Verzyl/Kwong; Bronze, Sturgill/Witte
MORGANTOWN, W.V. -- Sophie Verzyl (RipFest) and Kristen Hayden (RipFest) won women's synchronized 3-meter, and Carson Tyler (Johansen Diving Academy) and Josh Hedberg (Johansen Diving Academy) won men’s 10-meter synchro as the USA Diving National Championships wrapped up Tuesday.
Hayden became the first Black diver to win a U.S. national title in an Olympic event. She had previously won a title in mixed synchronized 3-meter, a non-Olympic event, in 2021. Earlier this week she won silver individually on 3-meter and 1-meter. It was her first meet since the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
“It's amazing. It was my first meet back, and I wanted to win a national championship on something. Being able to do it with my teammate, who I’ve trained so hard with, it's just so special. It couldn't have been a better way to win my first Olympic event title,” Hayden said. “I'm really proud of myself. I was coming back, not competing for two years, and then having to do the qualifier, like, requalify for nationals, and then two silvers and a gold, I'm so proud of myself.
“It feels so good to be back. I've always loved diving, and I always cherish it, but it's a different level of appreciation for the sport when I come back and get to train and be with the people that I love training with. You kind of look at it a little bit differently, when it's taken away from you for a little bit,” Hayden said.
Verzyl paired up with two partners. She and Hayden took the title with 586.92 points, and Verzyl also picked up a silver with Anna Kwong (Longhorn Aquatics) at 558.42. Bailee Sturgill (Unattached) and Lily Witte (Johansen Diving Academy) finished at 523.44 for bronze. Verzyl and Kwong had previously won two national titles together.
Verzyl was prepared for the challenge and appreciative of the support she had from both partners.
“It was like a practice, because I was moving so fast. But I did mock meets and trained in practice, going from different dives, like double out to full out, just in case that was the order. So I prepared ahead of time, and I did a lot of managing my heart rate and things like that. It was a challenge for sure, but I was excited to welcome that challenge, and it went pretty well,” Verzyl said.
“Anna and Kristen both supported me in different ways. Kristen definitely helped me focus on one dive at a time. And she kept reminding me of it, even if I thought I was thinking it, you know, it was nice to have something steady, keeping me there," Verzyl said. "Anna kept me smiling the whole time and goofing around. So, it was really fun to dive with both of them at the same time. And it was just really special, for sure.”
Hayden was impressed with Verzyl’s versatility and how she competed with Kwong.
“Sophie and Anna dove incredible today, and just for Sophie to be able to distinguish two different back presses, two different rhythms of hurdles, really just shows the athlete that she is, and it was amazing just to be a part of that. We’re all doing sync, we're all killing it together. We’re all battling, but we all are great sports. It was a great moment and great event,” Hayden said.
Verzyl was inspired by Hayden’s showing in her first meet in more than two years.
“Taking a two-year break and coming back to her first nationals and winning an event, it was just amazing to watch her go do that. Seeing how hard she works in practice is refreshing. It’s really fun to train with her because we both push each other. We have a good dynamic,” Verzyl said.
Tyler and Hedberg, the gold and silver medalists in the individual 10-meter contest, won the 10-meter synchro title with 844.86 points on their two lists. It was their fourth synchro title together.
“I thought we did a great job handling a long week of competition. This was a great step in the right direction,” Hedberg said.
Leyton Dean (RipFest) and Noah Horwitz (RipFest) took silver at 750.45, with bronze going to Max Weinrich (Johansen Diving Academy) and Dash Glasberg (Johansen Diving Academy) at 702.30.
Tyler also won bronze in the individual 3-meter event.
