Fresno State Athletics
Tuesday, March 12
Flagstaff, AZ
Fresno State
at
NCAA Zone Diving
Nikolaeva qualifies for 1-Meter final at NCAA Zone meet
3/12/2019 4:14:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Irina Nikolaeva wrapped up her junior season in style on Tuesday as she qualified for the final on 1-meter at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championship hosted by Northern Arizona University.
In a field of 57 top divers from schools including UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, Nikolaeva had the 16th best score in the preliminary round with a total of 257.05. Needing to finish in the top 18 to reach the final, she made a late push as two of her three highest scoring dives were the last two of her six-dive program.
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Nikolaeva was one of just six divers not from a Pac-12 school among the 18 final qualifiers. In the final the top eight finishers would earn a berth into the NCAA Championship. Scores carried over from the prelims with six more dives for each competitor in the final, and Nikolaeva added 233.50 to her total to finish at 490.55 in 18th place.
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After missing the first half of the season due to injury, Nikolaeva posted NCAA Zone qualifying scores on both 1-meter and 3-meter during the regular season and won the 1-meter competition in four meets. She earned All-MW honors on 1-meter for the second consecutive year as she placed sixth overall and broke the program championship record with a career-best score of 292.25 at the MW Championship.
 "Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSwim
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSwimDIve
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSwim
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In a field of 57 top divers from schools including UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, Nikolaeva had the 16th best score in the preliminary round with a total of 257.05. Needing to finish in the top 18 to reach the final, she made a late push as two of her three highest scoring dives were the last two of her six-dive program.
Â
Nikolaeva was one of just six divers not from a Pac-12 school among the 18 final qualifiers. In the final the top eight finishers would earn a berth into the NCAA Championship. Scores carried over from the prelims with six more dives for each competitor in the final, and Nikolaeva added 233.50 to her total to finish at 490.55 in 18th place.
Â
After missing the first half of the season due to injury, Nikolaeva posted NCAA Zone qualifying scores on both 1-meter and 3-meter during the regular season and won the 1-meter competition in four meets. She earned All-MW honors on 1-meter for the second consecutive year as she placed sixth overall and broke the program championship record with a career-best score of 292.25 at the MW Championship.
 "Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSwim
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSwimDIve
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSwim
Â
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