Seniors Elias Petersen and Kathryn Grant secured their places at the upcoming NCAA Championships in Atlanta, following strong performances on March 11 at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Their qualification marks a significant achievement for the Utah diving program as both athletes concluded their final Zone competitions with top finishes. Petersen placed second on the men’s 1-meter springboard, recording a combined score of 687.10 after prelims and finals. Grant finished sixth on platform with a total score of 505.10.
Head diving coach Richard Marschner praised his senior athletes, saying, “Elias and Kat closed out their Zone career in style. It’s always good to see your senior leaders step up and perform when it matters. Really excited that they both added another event to their NCAA schedules. We’ll be heading out to Atlanta in a few days and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do there.” Marschner also commented on Petersen’s performance: “Elias showed why he’s one of the best divers in the country today.” Regarding Grant’s consistency, he said, “Kathryn was steady again. She got the job done, hit a couple dives which is fun to see.”
Other Utah competitors included Alex Just, who scored 263.30 in prelims to finish 23rd on the men’s side, just ahead of teammate Attila Bernatsky.
The postseason will continue for Utah Swimming and Diving at the NCAA Championships later this month in Atlanta. The women’s team will compete from March 18-21, while the men’s events are scheduled for March 25-28.
