Thursday Results / Dive-by-Dive Scoring / Meet Central
INDIANAPOLIS - After a year away spent training for the Olympic Games, Purdue's Steele Johnson returned to the NCAA Championships in grand fashion, claiming his third career national title by winning the 1-meter diving competition.
Johnson improved on his prelims score by 40.9 points in the championship final, winning the NCAA title with a list score of 446.9. The Carmel, Indiana, native had an identical score of 76.5 in rounds four and five, but otherwise posted a higher score in each round as the competition moved along. He took over the lead beginning in round three and did not relinquish it.
Joe Cifelli was also an All-American on 1-meter Thursday, finishing sixth in the championship final. It was his first career podium finish at the national championship meet after being an honorable mention All-American on 3-meter as a freshman last year.
Johnson and Cifelli teamed up to give the Boilermakers at least two of the top eight finishers in an event at the NCAA Championships for the seventh time since 2009. Freshman Brandon Loschiavo also made his debut at NCAAs on Thursday, finishing in 29th place in the 1-meter prelims.
Purdue divers have now won 10 NCAA titles under head diving coach Adam Soldati. Johnson improved to 3-for-3 in championship finals after winning 1-meter and platform national titles as a freshman in 2015. David Boudia won six NCAA titles from 2009 to 2011 and teamed with Johnson to win silver in synchronized 10-meter at the 2016 Olympic Games. Casey Matthews won a 3-meter title at the 2013 Women's NCAA Championships, a meet that was also held in Indianapolis.
Cifelli posted a list score of 397.9 in the championship final, improving on his prelim score by 17.55. He had a clutch dive in round five of the prelims, posting a list-high score of 69.75 to strengthen his top-eight standing.
Johnson and Cifelli accounted for 33 team points, putting Purdue in 15th place after the first full day of individual events at the national championship meet.
The NCAA Championships continue through Saturday night. Friday, Purdue will be represented in the 100 breaststroke by Marat Amaltdinov and 3-meter diving by Johnson and Loschiavo.
PURDUE RESULTS ON THURSDAY AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
1-Meter Diving
Steele Johnson, 446.9 -- NCAA CHAMPION (20 Points)
Joe Cifelli, 397.9 -- Finished 6th in Championship Final (13 Points)
Brandon Loschiavo, 296.6 -- Finished 29th in Prelims