Duncan and McDaniels Win at Auburn Diving Invite

Kentucky Diving concluded their three-day stay at the Auburn Diving Invite with impressive performances from Sam Duncan and Claire McDaniels. Duncan emerged victorious in the Men’s 1-Meter event, while McDaniels claimed the top spot in the Women’s Platform. McDaniels and freshman Devynn Bishop also achieved NCAA Zone standards in the Women’s Platform, with Bishop setting two new personal bests.

The competition took place at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center on the campus of Auburn University, which will be the site of the 2024 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. This meet provided an opportunity for Kentucky divers to become familiar with the venue they will compete in during the upcoming conference championships.

Kentucky faced off against divers from Auburn, Illinois, and Missouri in all three disciplines. However, due to not having any entrants in the Men’s Platform event scheduled for the following day, the Wildcats’ participation in the four-day event ended a day early.

The event kicked off on Sunday with the Women’s 1-Meter and Women’s Team Event. McDaniels secured a third-place finish in the 1-Meter, achieving a season-high score of 287.50. Abby Devereaux, Jodi Cobb, and Bishop also performed well, earning sixth, seventh, and tenth place finishes, respectively. In the Women’s Team Event, Kentucky finished as the runner-up with a score of 304.50.

On Monday, Sam Duncan took the spotlight by winning the Men’s 1-Meter competition. After finishing in second place in preliminary dives, Duncan posted a final score of 355.95 to claim the top spot. This marked his second 1-Meter title of the season. Freshman Gavin Hang also competed and finished in sixth place.

Also on Monday, McDaniels led the way for the Wildcats in the Women’s 3-Meter event, securing a fifth-place finish. Devereaux, Cobb, and Bishop finished in seventh, tenth, and twelfth place, respectively. Despite struggling in the finals, Bishop achieved a personal best score of 267.20 in the preliminary round.

McDaniels’ win in the Women’s Platform event was the highlight of the final day for Kentucky. She clinched her first event win of the season with a score of 265.25, earning her second NCAA Zone cut for the 2023-24 season. Bishop also had an excellent showing on the Platform, finishing in third place with a career-high score of 258.65. Devereaux and Cobb also competed on the tower, finishing in seventh and eleventh place, respectively.

In the Men’s 3-Meter event, Duncan secured a third-place finish with a final score of 295.10. Hang also put forth a strong performance, finishing in fifth place with a season-best score of 277.55 in NCAA competition.

Kentucky Swimming and Diving will return from the holiday break to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in a two-day home dual. The action will take place at the Lancaster Aquatic Center on January 12 and 13, with free admission for the public. Start times for both days will be announced at a later date.

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