DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman Mackenzie Willborn and former Blue Devil Abby Johnston are set to compete at this week’s USA Diving Winter National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. The six-day meet begins Tuesday at IUPUI Natatorium.
Both Willborn and Johnston are slated to take part in the women’s 3-meter and synchronized 3-meter events in Indianapolis. The 3-meter synchronized competition will be held Wednesday while the 3-meter preliminaries and semifinals are scheduled for Friday, followed by the final on Sunday.
Willborn, who joined the Duke program from Flower Mound, Texas, has impressed in her first fall of collegiate action. She won the women’s platform competition at last month’s Nike Cup Invitational while also taking third on the 1-meter board. The Blue Devil rookie swept the springboard competitions twice in dual meet action, winning both events against Florida State and Queens (Oct. 23) and against Old Dominion and William & Mary (Nov. 7).
Willborn also competed at the Junior Pan American Championships in October, teaming with fellow American Emily Grund to capture the silver medal in the synchronized 3-meter event for the combined 14-18 age group.
A 2013 graduate of Duke, Johnston was a national champion on the 3-meter board and an All-American in both springboard events. She also captured a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the women’s synchronized 3-meter competition, claiming the United States’ first Olympic medal in a synchronized diving event.
Over the summer, Johnston represented the U.S. at the FINA World Aquatic Championships in Kazan, Russia, taking part in the individual and synchronized 3-meter events as well as the mixed gender synchronized 3-meter competition.
Duke head diving coach Nunzio Esposto will also be among the Duke contingent in Indianapolis this week.
Swimming news courtesy of Duke Swimming & Diving.
