U.S. OLYMPIC DIVING TRIALS
More than 100 athletes begin competition Saturday at the U.S. Olympic trials. Several divers with Minnesota ties are among those seeking spots on the team for the Rio Games in three synchronized events and four individual events.
When: Saturday through June 26
Where: Indiana University Natatorium, Indianapolis
What's at stake: The U.S. has qualified for seven of the eight diving events, and the trials will determine the athletes who will compete in Rio. The top two finishers in men's 3-meter, men's platform and women's platform will make the team. The U.S. has qualified for only one spot in women's 3-meter — for the trials winner — but diving's international governing body could give it a second spot when it allocates Olympic berths later this month. In the synchronized events, the winners in men's 3-meter, men's platform and women's platform will make the team. The U.S. did not qualify to compete in women's 3-meter synchronized in Rio.
TV: NBC will televise the individual event finals live on June 25 (3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and June 26 (3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.). NBCSN will show live coverage of synchronized event finals on Wednesday (8 p.m.) and Thursday (6 p.m.). NBCSN also has live coverage of semifinals on Saturday (7 p.m.), Sunday (7 p.m.), Monday (6 p.m.) and Tuesday (6 p.m.).
Local ties: The top contender with Minnesota connections is Laura Ryan of Elk River, a member of the national team since 2010. Ryan, a two-time NCAA champion at Georgia, placed 25th on 3-meter at the 2015 world championships and will compete in that event at the trials. She teamed with Abby Johnston to place ninth at the world championships in 3-meter women's synchronized, but the U.S. did not qualify for the Games in that event.
Jessica Parratto, whose parents live in Apple Valley, is a two-time national champion in platform and has five U.S. titles in synchronized platform. The 2015 NCAA champion from Indiana University is among the favorites in both events and will compete in synchronized platform with Amy Cozad.
The field also includes Sauk Rapids native Michole Timm (3-meter) and five former, current or future Gophers: Lexi Tenenbaum of Maple Grove (platform), a state high school champ and honorable mention All-America as a junior last season; Sarah McCrady of Eagan (platform), an honorable mention All-America and Big Ten champion during a college career that ended in 2014; Dylan Zoe of Eagan (3-meter) and Manny Pollard (platform), who completed their careers at the U last spring; and Sarah Bacon (3-meter), an incoming freshman from Indianapolis.
