OKLAHOMA CITY -- BYU's Tawni Jones and Ava Jackman both placed among the top 10 in both the 1- and 3-meter dives last weekend at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships.

Jones qualified for the NCAA Championships with her dives in the Regional Meet. Placing third from the 1-meter board with a score of 508.10 and finishing in fourth from the 3-meter board (575.40) landed Jones a spot as one of seven divers to qualify for the NCAA Championships from Region E.

"I am very proud of both Ava and Tawni for their performances in the Regional Meet," BYU dive coach Keith Russell said. "They both did well with their dives but they always could have done a little better. It is all about them executing their dives the way they can."

Jackman finished the 1-meter competition in fifth place as she was awarded a score of 496.95 from that height, while she came in 10th place on the 3-meter board with a score of 514.75.

Jones will not have much time to rest as she needs to prepare for the NCAA Championships that take place March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio. The diving events will take place on March 20 and 21.

"Tawni will need to spend a little bit of time fine tuning her dives this week before she heads to the national meet," Russell commented. "That being said, she definitely has the capability of placing high if she does her best."

PROVO -- BYU sophomores Tawni Jones and Ava Jackman are taking part in the Zone E Diving Regionals this weekend in Oklahoma City, Okla. Jones and Jackman will compete from the 1-meter board on Thursday and the 3-meter board on Friday.

"Both Tawni and Ava are very deserving to be competing in this regional diving meet," BYU dive coach Keith Russell said. "They will be going up against some very good competition, but if they perform the way they are capable, they both have a great chance to qualify for the national NCAA meet."

Jones won both the 1- and 3-meter events at the Mountain West Conference Championships just two weeks ago. Scores of 279.85 and 323.65 were awarded to Jones from the 1- and 3-meter boards, respectively, at the MWCC.

The diving action that Jones and Jackman will participate in starts at 4:15 p.m. CT on Thursday from the 1-meter board, and then they will both step back up on the board on Friday at 10:30 a.m. to compete from the 3-meter board.

Jackman enters this regional competition having recorded the second best season scores for the Cougars as she has posted a 290.25 from the 1-meter board, while her season-best score from 3-meters is 301.28.

2008 NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Thursday, March 13
Men's 3M - 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (CT)
Women's 1M - 4:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Friday, March 14
Women's 3M - 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Men's 1M - 3:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 15
Men's Platform - 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Women's Platform - 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.