Results

LEXINGTON, Ky. (SMU) – Parker Hardigree and Peter Smithson punched their tickets to the 2021 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships on day one of the NCAA Zone Championships.

The duo finish in the top nine on 3 meter to automatically qualify for the Championships, which will take place March 24-27 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Three meter is the first of three qualifying events taking place this week in Lexington.

Hardigree posted his highest career finish at a Zone Championship, leading the Mustangs with a sixth-place finish and a combined score of 688.50. The junior used a 347.05 to advance to finals and closed the day with a 341.45 in the final.

This will be the first trip to the NCAA Championships for Hardigree, who was named the American Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Diver and Most Outstanding Freshman in 2019. In three seasons, he's also garnered three conference championships and nine all-conference honors.

Smithson qualified for the second consecutive season after advancing on both 3 meter and platform and earning All-America honors in 2020.

The 2021 AAC Most Outstanding Diver finished seventh at 680.45, one spot better than his 2020 placement in the event. Smithson was 10th heading into the final, but used a 353.95 to climb three spots on the leaderboard and into an automatic qualifying spot.

Smithson is coming off a successful conference Championships where, in addition to top diving honors, he was a repeat champion on 3 meter and platform, and brought his all-conference accolade total to six.

Dominic Hoefer (647.00) also advanced to the afternoon round and placed 13th overall, up from a 22nd place finish in 2020.

Hardigree and Smithson join swimmer Caleb Rhodenbaugh who was selected to compete at the Championships in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Friday action features men's platform, where Smithson will look to grab one of eight automatic qualifying spots. With his performance on 3 meter, Smithson can enter the event at the NCAA Championships with a top 12 finish.
Events will begin at 10 a.m. CT, and will stream live here.