This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Thursday, March 3, 2022. Sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products. In our last swim poll, we wanted to know: Do you think we will see any new diving records at NCAA’s?
On the second day of Women’s Big 10 Championships, Sarah Bacon broke an 11-year-old record. She set the new standard for the 1-meter by scoring 376.10 points. The previous record of 370.30 was set in 2011 by Minnesota’s Kelci Bryant. The senior was a full 45.45 points ahead of her second-place competitor.
Bacon has won the 1-meter at NCAA’s for the last three years. Coming off of a stellar performance, it would not be a surprise if she ends her collegiate career with another broken record. Before NCAAs, Bacon will compete at Zone D Diving Championships in Madison, Wis.
Stanford diver Lina Sculti had a great showing at Pac-12 championships last week as well. In the 3-meter, Sculti claimed 370.85 points on the second day of competition. She was 17 points shy of the Pac-12 record set in 2006 by USC’s Blythe Hartley.
A name to watch on the men’s side is Andrew Capobianco. He won silver in Tokyo last summer in the 3-meter and is the defending 3-meter NCAA champion. Last week at Big 10’s he received the Big 10 Diver of the Year designation as well as going three for three in all of the diving events. Before heading to NCAA’s later this month Capobianco will compete at NCAA Zones Diving.
Swim Poll: Do you think we will see any new diving records at NCAA’s?
Yes — 47%
No — 52%
It is incredibly difficult to break those records now. The judges are trained meticulously and better than ever… scores are not as generous at times. That is not a criticism of the judging then or now, it is just different. 10s awarded by judges are rare now. Certainly more rare than previously.