FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Hunter Hollenbeck earned his first NCAA Championships berth placing fifth in the 3-meter final at the Zone E Championships at the Northern Arizona University Aquatic and Tennis Complex on Monday.
Five NCAA spots were available in that event and Stanford nabbed two of them, with Jack Ryan taking first and Hollenbeck fifth. Ryan scored 878.20 points to win by an incredible margin of 118. Hollenbeck scored 747.05 to advance by 24.45 over sixth.
This is the third Zone E 3-meter title for Ryan, a junior, in as many tries. He has four Zone E titles overall. Last year, Ryan scored 803.15 on the 3-meter, and 845.50 as a freshman.
Ryan had a 19.50 degree of difficulty in his series with Hollenbeck at 18.50. Ryan averaged 73.61 total for each of his 12 dives, with an average of 7.56 score from the seven judges. Hollenbeck had averages of 61.80 and 6.67.
Ryan led after the prelims with 436.55, but he did well to put himself out of reach on his first dive of the final – a Forward 2 ½ Somersault 2 Twist Pike. The dive had a 3.4 degree of difficulty and resulted in four 8.0 scores from the judges. The dive totaled 79.90, which extended Ryan's lead over second-place Shangfei Wang of USC to 516.45-447.40.
Hollenbeck scored best in the final with the same dive, totaling 73.10, with one judge awarding him an 8.5. That was his final dive of the day and ensured his spot at NCAA's.
In 13 collegiate competitions this season, Ryan has won 11, including sweeping the Pac-12 springboard titles. Ryan and Hollenbeck next compete at 1-meter on Wednesday, with the top six advancing.
The NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are March 26-30.
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Zone E Diving
At Northern Arizona University Aquatic and Tennis Complex
Men
3-meter – Final: 1, Jack Ryan (Stanford) 878.20; 5, Hunter Hollenbeck (Stanford) 747.05. Prelims: 1, Ryan 436.55; 3, Hollenbeck 376.25.
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Stanford's Schedule
Wednesday
11:30 a.m.: Men's 1-meter prelims
1:40 p.m.: Men's 1-meter finals.