University Southern California Trojans
USC
Pac-10 Diving Championships
Jones Claims Pac-10 Title On 1-Meter
February 26, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 26, 2010
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Sophomore Harrison Jones won his second career Pac-10 title and the first on 1-meter springboard on the second day of the 2010 Pac-10 Diving Championships in Federal Way, Wash., on Friday (Feb. 26).
Jones, who was fifth on 3-meter Thursday, led the entire 1-meter competition on Friday. He finished first out of prelims and kept the lead throughout the final round, winning with a total of 411.20, nicely ahead of ASU's Blaha Constantin (404.70).
USC junior Steven Starks also made the final and placed sixth with 349.45. It was his best career finish at the Pac-10s on 1-meter and marked his seventh top 8 finish in eight Pac-10 Championship events.
 Steven Starks was sixth on 1-meter Friday.  | |
Jones opened the final round with a forward three-and-a-half somersault tuck which garnered 73.50 points, his highest total of the final round. That dive, which earned two scores of 8.5 and two of 8.0, provided him the momentum that carried him throughout the six-dive final.
Jones, diving last each round, finished with an inward two-and-a-half somersault tuck that earned his second biggest score of the final (71.30) and clinched his second career Pac-10 title.
"Harrison redeemed himself after a tough showing on Thursday," USC head diving coach Hongping Li said. "He competed with confidence and a desire to win from the preliminary round through the finals. It was a nice showing from Steven as well."
The win was USC's first on 1-meter since 1999, its 11th ever on 1-meter and the 28th conference diving title. Jones won the Pac-10 platform title in 2009 and will defend his crown on Saturday.
The win also gives USC at least one men's swimming or diving Pac-10 title in 14 consecutive seasons.
