Oxford, Ohio – Max Flory (Fairfax, Va./Dominion Dive Club) and Jack Matthews (Powell, Ohio/Ohio State Diving Club) won the boys’ synchronized 3-meter contest and Tarrin Gilliland (Liberty Hill, Texas/COM Aquatics) and Sophie McAfee (San Marino, Calif./Trojan Dive Club) won girls’ synchronized platform to earn spots on the 2018 Junior World Championships team on Wednesday.
The USA Diving Junior World Championship Trials run through April 22 and will determine the team that represents the United States at the 2018 FINA World Junior Championships in Kiev, Ukraine, from July 23-29.
Flory and Matthews secured the boys’ 3-meter synchro spot after scoring 591.57 on two lists of dives. Lyle Yost (Shaker Heights, Ohio/American Flyers Diving) and Noah Duperre (New Albany, Ohio/Ohio State Diving Club) took second with 569.43 points.
“It was a lot of fun competing. We did really well. I was happy that we were able to do a consistent list in prelims and then do it again in finals,” Flory said.
Gilliland and McAfee scored 576.48 points on their two lists of synchronized platform dives for first on that event. Daryn Wright (Plainfield, Ind./Indiana International School of Diving) and Mikayla Zick (Plainfield, Ind./Indiana International School of Diving) were second with 447.57 points.
“Tarrin’s a great synchro partner. She’s remarkable. I love diving with her. I’m really happy with how it went. I think we both dove pretty well. I always look up to her and her diving,” McAfee said.
Synchronized competition at the Junior World Championship Trials continues Thursday with the girls on 3-meter and the boys on platform. Individual events begin Friday.
