Greetings from the CIF-SS Division 1 girls diving finals in Riverside. Refresh this live blog to follow Alexandra Caplan’s bid to capture a historic fourth straight Division 1 title. The Mission Viejo senior is trying to become first county diver to four-peat and faces a tough challenge from freshman Camryn Hidalgo of Capo Valley among others in an 11-dive competition.
ROUND 1
Caplan is tied for first with Hidalgo after the first round with matching scores of 40.00. Caplan scored a 9.0 on a forward 1 1/2 somersault pike.
ROUND 2
Caplan is fourth behind leader Hidalgo (91.60), trailing by 12.4 points. Hidalgo broke out a tough dive in this round — a forward 2 1/2 somersaults on 3-meter — and scored well. Lot of poise from a freshman but Caplan has plenty of experience for a long, 11-dive competition.
ROUND 3
Caplan moves to second after the third round with a total score of 129.60, just behind leader Hidalgo at 135.70. Caplan and Hidalgo have each performed the same three dives, with the only difference Hidalgo taking her back dive pike to 3-meter while Caplan picked the 1-meter.
ROUND 4
Caplan and Hidalgo each miss dives in this round, a rarity for the usually consistent Caplan. The San Diego State-bound senior takes a long walk around the pool after missing a reverse 2 1/2 somersaults pike on 3-meter that has left her trailing leader Hiladgo by 14. Hidalgo missed a back 2 1/2 somersaults pike on 3-meter, scoring five 5.5s.
ROUND 5
Caplan is third after a solid effort but Hidalgo stretches her first-place cushion 20 over the three-time defending champion. The freshman hits her best dive so far, scoring big on a reverse 1 1/2 somersaults pike on 3-meter. Caplan has some big-time rallying to do if she wants to catch Hidalgo.
ROUND 6
Hidalgo just earned the first 10.0 of the competition, so the sprint is on. The Mission Viejo Nadadores diver ripped her inward dive pike. Caplan needs a big answer. She scores three 7.0s and stays third behind Hidalgo by 24.35 points. San Clemente’s Haley Farnsworth is second, 12.85 points ahead of Caplan.
ROUND 7
Hidalgo misses her second dive. Is this the opening for Caplan to capitalize? Caplan heats up with two 8.0s and an 8.5 but is still third — 24.25 points behind Hidalgo.
ROUND 8
Overall leader Hidalgo hanging tough with a solid effort to lead off Round 8. Farnsworth emerges with her best dive, earning a 10.0. It’s definitely a third girl race. Caplan is OK but makes enough splash to probably stay in third. She scores four 6.0s on a tough back 2 1/2 somersaults tuck on 3-meter. Standings: Hidalgo leads Farnsworth by 14.70 pts and Caplan by almost 20 points with a score of 373.05. Farnsworth sits at 358.35, 3.15 points ahead of Caplan.
ROUND 9
Hidalgo nails a big dive for four 9.0s. She’s been the most consistent big-scorer today and is nearing a CIF title. Caplan answers with her best dive of the day but will it be too late? She is 14.55 points behind leader Hidalgo.
ROUND 10 Getting very tight. Hidalgo is OK on a tough dive on 1-meter and Farnsworth stays hot on 3-meter. The San Clemente is 4.90 points out of first place. Caplan nails a tough dive on 3-meter to move to second place with 468.60, 4.05 behind Hidalgo. Farnsworth is third at 467.75
ROUND 11
Hidalgo might have sealed the title with a clutch effort on 1-meter — doesn’t look like a freshman. Farnsworth missed in the round and Caplan needs a near-perfect to grab the title – maybe. Caplan ends her stellar career with a excellent dive on 1-meter but Camyrn Hidalgo captures the title with 536.40 points. Caplan edges Farnsworth for third with a score of 523.80.
