March 12, 2004

Annapolis, Md. - George Mason's Jamie Downing placed fourth on the women's one-meter springboard at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, being held this weekend in Lejeune Hall on the campus of the Naval Academy.

Downing (Sr.; Midlothian, VA/Clover Hills) recorded a 497.30 on the one-meter to finish behind Penn State participates Lisa Silvestri (547.45), Allison Riccobono (509.30) and Corecy Pagnotta (508.15). Silvestri's first-place outing allowed her to receive the first of four invitations to the NCAA Championship, to be held March 25-27, in East Meadow, NY.

Patriot senior Allison Craw (Nashville, TN/Father Ryan) also had a solid showing, placing 16th on the 1-meter with a score of 420.05. Freshman Colleen Flack (Longhorne, PA/Council Rock) ranked 30th (188.25).

On the men's side, Mason sophomore John Appleman (Fairfax, VA/Robinson Secondary) finished 17th on the three-meter springboard with a score of 434.85. Penn State's Marc Gastaldo captured the automatic NCAA bid after totaling 539.70. Drexel's Anthony Perry (521.70) was second, followed by Navy's Kevin Teague (518.35).

All four Mason divers along with the rest of the field will have two more opportunities Saturday to qualify for the NCAA Championship as the men's one-meter begins at 11 a.m., followed by the women's platform event at 4 p.m. Also to be disputed Saturday is the women's three-meter competition, which is slated to start at 11 a.m. as well.