March 21, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - University of Missouri junior Kendra Melnychuk cemented her position among the nation's diving elite on Friday with her 11th-place finish in 3-meter diving at the NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. With her finish, the highest of any men or women's diver in program history, Melnychuk became the first female Tiger All-America diver since Denise Buccheister in 1982.

"This was the best 3-meter set I have ever seen Kendra dive," said Mizzou Diving Coach Jamie Sweeney. "She just missed the top eight in prelims, but came back and nailed all of her dives in consols. We are really proud of her accomplishment and all she has done for this program."

After a three-day bout with the flu, Melnychuk never looked better in Saturday's 3-meter diving competition. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native earned scores of 50.00 or better on four of her six prelim dives, with the judges awarding her 48.60 and 48.75 points for her other pair of dives. Her ninth-place overall score of 316.65 put her fewer than four points out of the top eight, and a place in the evening's championship finals.

Melnychuk was right back at it again in the consolation finals. After receiving scores of 49.20 and 46.25 on her first pair of dives, the Tiger standout broke out for three scores of 50.00 or better and a score of 60.20 in her final four dives to finish third in consols and 11th overall with a score of 313.90.

The Canadian looks to continue her surge in Saturday's platform diving competition, arguably her strongest event. Action on the tower is slated to begin with prelims at 12:30 p.m. CST. Live results will be available right here on mutigers.com.

Melnychuk's Results by Round

Prelims

51.60 / 48.75 / 58.50 / 53.20 / 48.60 / 56.00 = 316.65

Consolation Finals

49.20 / 46.25 / 51.00 / 60.20 / 52.65 / 54.60 = 313.90