BYU Divers Score High in Day One of Trojan Invitational

LOS ANGELES -- Competing against several top diving schools, the BYU diving teams dominated in the first day of the Trojan Diving Invitåtional Thursday.

In day one of the three-day invitational hosted by USC, the Cougars were led by senior All-American Rachelle Smith, who captured the 1M event with a score of 413.30. Teammate Anna Tutunnikova, a Russian transfer student in her first season at BYU, claimed the runner-up spot in the event with a 391.55. Freshman Kelli Einfeldt was also a finalist in the event, winding up in seventh place in the field of 29 competitors.

The men narrowly missed a 1-2 finish on the 3M board, dropping to second and third by just five-hundredths of a point. Stanford's Lucas Brower took the event, posting a 501.30, but BYU freshman and Mountain West Conference Diver of the Week Scott Randall was just behind with a 501.25. Freshman Aaron Russell placed third, while fellow freshman and teammate Bryce Barrand was a finalist as well, placing eighth overall.

"As a team we did really well," BYU diving coach Keith Russell said. "I was excited about everyone's performance. Overall, it was a wonderful day."

The Cougar divers will take to the pool again Friday, with the competition concluding Saturday morning. Results will be posted daily as they are available on BYU's official athletics homepage, www.byucougars.com.