Cougar's Keiss Finishes 3rd on 1-Meter Board at NCAA Zone Meet

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – University of Houston sophomore Anna Kiess finished third on the 1-meter springboard Saturday during the second day of competition at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships, hosted by Texas A&M at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium.

Kiess, who joined with junior captain Azul Almazan as qualifiers to the 2005 NCAA Championships following their performances on the 3-meter springboard Friday, earned 517.25 points in the finals to earn her standing in the 1-meter event. The Berlin, Germany, native staged an impressive comeback after starting the finals in fifth place with 254.15 points following the preliminaries.

Both divers qualified for the 2005 NCAA Championships – hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. – starting March 17.

Kiess was just one of four Cougar divers who qualified for the NCAA Zone D meet. Almazan, who won the 3-meter springboard title on Friday, sat out Saturday’s event but is expected to compete Sunday on the platform.

Sophomore Rachel Gitelson finished 11th on the 1-meter springboard with 455.95 points, while junior Stephanie Mannella finished 15th with 430.75 points.

Texas A&M’s Rosie Whiting won the 1-meter championship with 529.60 points. Liz Pike of SMU finished second with 527.40 points.