ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomores Emily Hallifax and Chloe Brothers each earned a place at the 2026 NCAA Championships next week in Atlanta, Georgia, after a pair of sterling performances on Platform. Across three days of competition at the Zone B Championships inside Gabrielsen Natatorium, head diving coach John Fox and Co. have qualified four divers to NCAAs.
Hallifax and Brothers brought their respective A-games to the tower on Tuesday. Brothers, an SEC finalist in the event, was seventh after prelims with a 258.55. Hallifax was even better, delivering a fifth-place effort with an even 295.00.
The French Olympian saved something special in finals, though. A 327.40, the second-highest score in Auburn history, easily secured Hallifax a trip to her second NCAA Championships in as many seasons. Brothers pieced together a 272.85 for a 531.40 total and sixth place, also earning the sophomore a ticket to Atlanta next week.
Over in the men’s 3-meter competition, both Ethan Swart (385.45) and Talan Blackmon (372.65) produced a solid first six dives to make it back to finals.
Swart maintained his consistency over his next six dives, putting together a 373.55 and an even 759.00 total. Unfortunately, it fell two points short of 12th place for Swart to add 3-meter to his NCAA resume.
Blackmon also finished strong, amassing a 368.55 and a 741.20 total to lock up 13th place.
Ben Wilson solidified 28th place at 319.05.
The 2026 Zone B Championships conclude on Wednesday with the men’s platform competition. Action begins at 10:15 a.m. CT and will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
Below are the number of qualifying spots in each discipline and the remaining schedule of events:
Women
1-meter – 11
3-meter – 9
Platform – 7
Men
1-meter – 8
3-meter – 6
Platform – 7
Any diver that is eligible to compete as noted above will be allowed to optionally enter any other event(s) at the championships, provided that the diver finished in the top 12 at the same zone meet and has achieved the zone qualifying score for that event prior to the NCAA Championships.
Wednesday, March 11
10:15 a.m. CT – Men’s Platform prelims
Noon CT – Men’s Platform finals