Knapton Takes Seventh in 3-Meter Final

Nebraska All-American Abigail Knapton took seventh in the three-meter springboard final at the U.S. Olympic Diving Team Trials on Saturday at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Knapton, the 2021 Big Ten Diver of the Meet from Omaha, closed the three-meter competition with a score of 809.10.

Krysta Palmer (Reno, Nevada), who turns 29 on Sunday, claimed the top spot in the event and a spot on the U.S. Olympic Diving Team with a winning total 1,011.95. Hailey Hernandez, an 18-year-old and recent high school graduate, finished second (926.55) to join Palmer on the Olympic Team. Minnesota's Sarah Bacon, who was a silver medalist at last month's World Cup, took third (912.10) to just miss out on a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Although Palmer is 11 years older than Hernandez, she has actually been diving three years less than the youngster who has been diving competitively since age 7. Palmer did not take up the sport until age 20.

Knapton, a six-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Champion out of Omaha Marian High School, will be back in action battling for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Diving Team on Sunday night during the platform competition. Knapton, a graduate student at Nebraska with one season of eligibility remaining, is the only diver to advance to the finals in both the three-meter springboard and the platform at the U.S. Trials.