2026 NCAA Zone Diving Championships: Day 1 Qualifiers

2026 NCAA Zone Diving Championships

• Zone A
  • March 9-11
  • U.S. Naval Academy, Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Results
• Zone B
  • March 8-11
  • University of Georgia, Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia
  • Results
• Zone C
  • March 9-11
  • Eastern Michigan University, Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti, Michigan
  • Results
• Zone D
  • March 9-11
  • Texas A&M University, Student Recreation Center Natatorium in College Station, Texas
  • Results
• Zone E
  • March 9-11
  • Northern Arizona University, Wall Aquatic Center in Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Results

While the 2026 NCAA Championship swimming qualifiers are all but locked in, the divers are competing over the next few days to secure their tickets to the meet. Unlike in swimming, divers are not able to automatically qualify for NCAA’s during the season. The nature of diving is such that the judging cannot be fully standardized across the nation, so the NCAA hosts five different “zone” meets across the nation to award Championship qualification. The locations of each of the meets cover a certain regional area and teams must attend their assigned zone location.

Each event within each zone is awarded a certain number of automatic qualifying spots. The number of spots zones received is a reflection of how well divers from that zone placed at the previous NCAA Championships. No matter how many automatic qualifying spots a zone has, athletes who place in the top 12 but are outside of the qualifying standard are basically awarded what is the equivalent to a “B” cut in swimming. Meaning that as long as they are a qualifier in one event, they may compete in others in which they placed top 12 in at zones.

2026 Qualifying Spots By Zone:

And if the NCAA qualifying procedures for divers weren’t complicated enough as is, the zone meet is structured slightly differently than other regular season and championship meets. This postseason competition is run as a prelims-finals meet and cumulative scoring. This means each dive counts equally and consistency is key to success at this meet.

Zone B got things started today and will run through Wednesday, March 11, while the remaining four zones join in tomorrow, Monday, March 9, all also wrapping up Wednesday. Starting in the morning, divers and coaches across the NCAA will have a full slate of competition across all five zones.

One-meter diving for the women was the only event on the docket for day one; see the results below, with a (*) indicating those who achieved what is essentially their “B” cut:

Zone B (Athens, GA)

Women’s 1 Meter Results (11 automatic qualifying spots):