Husker diver looks to qualify for NCAA championships

Lincoln -- University of Nebraska sophomore diver Jerilyn Drummond will travel to Fayatteville, Ark., for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships this Friday and Saturday at the HPER Natatorium at the University of Arkansas.

The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, native took home fourth place on the one-meter springboard (258.40) at the Big 12 Championships while placing seventh on the three meter (440.35) at the conference meet last month.

Joining Drummond in Arkansas will be defending NCAA Champion Yulia Pakhalina from Houston, who took home one and three meter titles last year. Also included in the field are the top nine finishers on the three meter from the Big 12 championships along with the top ten finishers from the one meter.

Despite the strength of the competition in Arkansas, diving coach Jeff Bro feels that Drummond can qualify for the national championships, March 21-23 in Austin, Texas.

Jerilyn goes into the zone meet controlling her own destiny, Bro said. If she dives well, she has a legitimate shot at going to the NCAA meet, and I think she has a really great shot of doing just that.

Diving begins each morning at 9 a.m. and continues through the day.