Wednesday, March 9
Atalnta, GA
All Day
Florida Gators
at
NCAA Diving Zones
Smith, Warner Capitalize in Final Day at Zone Championships
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Warner qualifies on all three boards to lead UF divers
M. Platform: Prelims | Finals
W. Platform: Prelims | Finals
ATLANTA -- Senior Kahlia Warner and freshman Sam Smith dove their way to the NCAA Championships as the University of Florida diving team capped the third and final day at the 2016 NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Atlanta. Today's competition was dove from the platform event inside the McAuley Aquatic Center on Georgia Tech's Campus.
Warner led the Florida women with an NCAA-qualifying performance for the third-straight day. The Queensland, Australia, native posted a prelims score of 254.45 in her first five dives and bettered the mark in the finals with a 267.90 to finish sixth overall (522.35).
Senior Delaney Dye dove her final collegiate meet this afternoon and finished on a high note, placing 17th overall in the finals with a 10-dive total of 442.15.
Newcomer Abigail Howell rounded out the divers on the women's end and nearly made the finals cut in just her first go-around at the Zone Diving Championships. The Clermont, Florida, native finished 19th overall among the field of 30, posting a five-dive score of 216.20.
On the men's side, all three Florida men had a strong preliminary showing and qualified for the platform finals. Smith, who qualified for the NCAA meet on the 1-Meter on Tuesday, led the pack. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native ranked third in the prelims (352.90) and finished sixth overall in the finals (677.05).
Senior Zach Hernandez capped his collegiate career with a strong showing in today's finals. His mark of 288.45 in the prelims ranked 13th among the 23-man field. Later in the finals, he posted a six-dive score of 309.7 to hold a 13th-place position with a 12-dive score of 598.15.
Redshirt sophomore Dalton Goss held a 15th-place position through the prelims (287.55) and totaled a score of 564.35 through 12 dives in the finals to finish 17th overall.
Florida Diving Head Coach Dale Schultz on the Afternoon:
"I couldn't be prouder of this group of seniors than I am right now. They've worked so incredibly hard and overcame adversity to finish out their careers on a high note. Each one of them had the opportunity to compete at a high level and qualify for the finals this week and Kahlia Warner in particular was fortunate enough to qualify on all three boards as we approach the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm really proud of Zach [Hernandez], Emily [Mosher], Delaney [Dye], and Kahlia [Warner] with the effort they showed all year and in their ability to lead by example.
"Kahlia and Sam each had outstanding days today and each will be moving on to the NCAA Tournament. We're looking forward to their dives throughout the week. It's been a long week for everyone and right now we need to rest up a bit and then we'll get back to work."
Freshman Sam Smith on his week at the Zone Diving Championships:
"I'm really excited to be able to travel and continue to help our team at the NCAA Championships. This was more than just a personal achievement for me because at the end of the day, it's about the team aspect and I'm just really happy to be able to hopefully contribute."
Senior Kahlia Warner on her week at the Zone Diving Championships:
"This week hasn't completely sunk in yet and I'm not sure if it ever really will. I'm happy with how things played out. I've worked so hard for the success I've found this week and I'm really happy my family was able to watch.
"I'm looking forward to the atmosphere at the NCAA meet and the opportunity to share it with my teammates. Most importantly, I'm looking forward to finishing off a strong career. I've still got a few goals to accomplish at the NCAA Meet that would truly make some dreams come true. I've done everything I can up until this point and I'm looking forward to what's ahead."
Warner at the 2015 NCAA Championships:
Warner competed in her first-career NCAA meet and earned her first-career All-American honor on day one of the 2015 NCAA Championships. She placed sixth in the one-meter finals, diving to a score of 321.75. With that, Warner became UF's first diver since 2011 to earn an All-American honor and its second-ever female to earn the accolade on the one-meter board. Monica Dodson was the Gators' last All-American diver and Megan Neyer (1982-86) was the last to accomplish the feat on the one-meter.
Warner at the 2016 SEC Championships:
Warner was named the 2016 SEC Female Diver of the 2016 SEC Championships. The Queensland, Australia, native, dove to first-place finishes on the one and 3-Meter springboards -- where she achieved school records on both boards. Warner now joins former Gator Great, Megan Neyer (1982-1986), as the only two divers to post wins on each board at the conference meet in the same season.
Who's competing at the 2016 NCAA Championships (Women):
On March 2, the NCAA announced Nine Florida Swimmers Have Qualified for the 2016 NCAA Championships in addition to four relay events. Those nine swimmers will be joined Senior Kahlia Warner, who is set to compete from all three boards.
Who's competing at the 2016 NCAA Championships (Men):
The NCAA announced earlier this afternoon that 13 Gators qualified in 22 individual events and five relay races come competition in two weeks. Eight of those selected swimmers are returners from last year's NCAA meet.
NCAA Championships Coverage:
ESPN3 will stream live the championship finals sessions Friday and Saturday. Tape delayed coverage of the championships will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern, March 29 for the women's championships All sessions not streamed by ESPN will be streamed live on the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships microsite.
Up Next:
The Florida men and women return to action at the 2016 NCAA Championships in Atlanta. The women's team will compete from March 16-19, while the men are scheduled to go from the 23-26.
Follow the Gators
Twitter | Facebook
FloridaGators.com
W. Platform: Prelims | Finals
ATLANTA -- Senior Kahlia Warner and freshman Sam Smith dove their way to the NCAA Championships as the University of Florida diving team capped the third and final day at the 2016 NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Atlanta. Today's competition was dove from the platform event inside the McAuley Aquatic Center on Georgia Tech's Campus.
Warner led the Florida women with an NCAA-qualifying performance for the third-straight day. The Queensland, Australia, native posted a prelims score of 254.45 in her first five dives and bettered the mark in the finals with a 267.90 to finish sixth overall (522.35).
Senior Delaney Dye dove her final collegiate meet this afternoon and finished on a high note, placing 17th overall in the finals with a 10-dive total of 442.15.
Newcomer Abigail Howell rounded out the divers on the women's end and nearly made the finals cut in just her first go-around at the Zone Diving Championships. The Clermont, Florida, native finished 19th overall among the field of 30, posting a five-dive score of 216.20.
On the men's side, all three Florida men had a strong preliminary showing and qualified for the platform finals. Smith, who qualified for the NCAA meet on the 1-Meter on Tuesday, led the pack. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native ranked third in the prelims (352.90) and finished sixth overall in the finals (677.05).
Senior Zach Hernandez capped his collegiate career with a strong showing in today's finals. His mark of 288.45 in the prelims ranked 13th among the 23-man field. Later in the finals, he posted a six-dive score of 309.7 to hold a 13th-place position with a 12-dive score of 598.15.
Redshirt sophomore Dalton Goss held a 15th-place position through the prelims (287.55) and totaled a score of 564.35 through 12 dives in the finals to finish 17th overall.
Florida Diving Head Coach Dale Schultz on the Afternoon:
"I couldn't be prouder of this group of seniors than I am right now. They've worked so incredibly hard and overcame adversity to finish out their careers on a high note. Each one of them had the opportunity to compete at a high level and qualify for the finals this week and Kahlia Warner in particular was fortunate enough to qualify on all three boards as we approach the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm really proud of Zach [Hernandez], Emily [Mosher], Delaney [Dye], and Kahlia [Warner] with the effort they showed all year and in their ability to lead by example.
"Kahlia and Sam each had outstanding days today and each will be moving on to the NCAA Tournament. We're looking forward to their dives throughout the week. It's been a long week for everyone and right now we need to rest up a bit and then we'll get back to work."
Freshman Sam Smith on his week at the Zone Diving Championships:
"I'm really excited to be able to travel and continue to help our team at the NCAA Championships. This was more than just a personal achievement for me because at the end of the day, it's about the team aspect and I'm just really happy to be able to hopefully contribute."
Senior Kahlia Warner on her week at the Zone Diving Championships:
"This week hasn't completely sunk in yet and I'm not sure if it ever really will. I'm happy with how things played out. I've worked so hard for the success I've found this week and I'm really happy my family was able to watch.
"I'm looking forward to the atmosphere at the NCAA meet and the opportunity to share it with my teammates. Most importantly, I'm looking forward to finishing off a strong career. I've still got a few goals to accomplish at the NCAA Meet that would truly make some dreams come true. I've done everything I can up until this point and I'm looking forward to what's ahead."
Warner at the 2015 NCAA Championships:
Warner competed in her first-career NCAA meet and earned her first-career All-American honor on day one of the 2015 NCAA Championships. She placed sixth in the one-meter finals, diving to a score of 321.75. With that, Warner became UF's first diver since 2011 to earn an All-American honor and its second-ever female to earn the accolade on the one-meter board. Monica Dodson was the Gators' last All-American diver and Megan Neyer (1982-86) was the last to accomplish the feat on the one-meter.
Warner at the 2016 SEC Championships:
Warner was named the 2016 SEC Female Diver of the 2016 SEC Championships. The Queensland, Australia, native, dove to first-place finishes on the one and 3-Meter springboards -- where she achieved school records on both boards. Warner now joins former Gator Great, Megan Neyer (1982-1986), as the only two divers to post wins on each board at the conference meet in the same season.
Who's competing at the 2016 NCAA Championships (Women):
On March 2, the NCAA announced Nine Florida Swimmers Have Qualified for the 2016 NCAA Championships in addition to four relay events. Those nine swimmers will be joined Senior Kahlia Warner, who is set to compete from all three boards.
Who's competing at the 2016 NCAA Championships (Men):
The NCAA announced earlier this afternoon that 13 Gators qualified in 22 individual events and five relay races come competition in two weeks. Eight of those selected swimmers are returners from last year's NCAA meet.
NCAA Championships Coverage:
ESPN3 will stream live the championship finals sessions Friday and Saturday. Tape delayed coverage of the championships will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern, March 29 for the women's championships All sessions not streamed by ESPN will be streamed live on the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships microsite.
Up Next:
The Florida men and women return to action at the 2016 NCAA Championships in Atlanta. The women's team will compete from March 16-19, while the men are scheduled to go from the 23-26.
Follow the Gators
Twitter | Facebook
FloridaGators.com
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingUp Next presented by UF Health (October 17, 2025)
Friday, October 17
Aaron Chiles Media Availability 10-15-25
Friday, October 17
Damieon George Jr. Media Availability 10-15-25
Friday, October 17
Florida Soccer Highlights | Tennessee (October 16, 2025)
Friday, October 17
