Colwill takes fourth at diving championships

Posted Aug 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Aug 13, 2011 at 09:48 PM

Despite battling back spasms throughout the meet, Tampa Prep and University of Georgia product Chris Colwill earned fourth place in 3-meter springboard at Saturday’s at AT&T National Diving Championships in Los Angeles.

Kristian Ipsen of Clayton, Calif., used a high degree of difficulty to win the men’s 3-meter title. He won with 499.50 points, taking the lead on his final dive, a complicated front 2-½ with 3 twists that carries a 3.9 degree of difficulty. Trailing by just a quarter of a point entering the final round, Ipsen earned 8s and 9s for 93.60 points on the dive, moving him into first place. Drew Livington of Austin, Texas, won the silver medal with 495.30 points and Olympian Troy Dumais, also based in Austin, finished third with 490.30 points.

Colwill, a native of Brandon who was fourth in 3-meter synchro at the 2008 Olympics, had to deal with back spasms much of the day but still put together some difficult dives to take fourth place with 464.20. That was nearly 30 points ahead of Dumais’ older brother, Justin Dumais, who was fifth with 434.35 points.

Colwill finishes competition at nationals Sunday when he and new dive partner Drew Livingston compete in 3-meter synchro.