Diving into Excellence: Hallifax and Brothers Shine at Zone B Championships
In the heart of Athens, Georgia, sophomores Emily Hallifax and Chloe Brothers made waves at the Zone B Championships, earning their spots at the 2026 NCAA Championships in Atlanta. Over three intense days at the Gabrielsen Natatorium, head diving coach John Fox and his team saw four divers qualify for the prestigious event.
Hallifax and Brothers were nothing short of spectacular on the platform. Brothers, who had already made a name for herself as an SEC finalist, stood strong in the prelims, securing seventh place with a score of 258.55. Hallifax, however, took it up a notch, achieving a fifth-place finish with an impressive 295.00.
The finals brought out the best in Hallifax. She delivered a remarkable 327.40, marking the second-highest score in Auburn's history, and punched her ticket to her second consecutive NCAA Championships. Brothers wasn't far behind, compiling a 272.85 in the finals for a total of 531.40, securing sixth place and her own spot in Atlanta.
On the men’s side, the 3-meter competition saw Ethan Swart and Talan Blackmon delivering solid performances. Swart, with a total score of 759.00, narrowly missed adding the 3-meter to his NCAA resume by just two points, finishing in 13th place. Blackmon also showed his prowess, achieving a 741.20 total.
Ben Wilson rounded out the day with a 28th-place finish, scoring 319.05.
The Zone B Championships wrap up with the men’s platform competition, starting at 10:15 a.m. CT, with live coverage on SEC Network Plus. The competition is fierce, but these divers are proving they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Here's a quick look at the remaining qualifying spots:
Women:
- 1-meter - 11 spots
- 3-meter - 9 spots
- Platform - 7 spots
Men:
- 1-meter - 8 spots
- 3-meter - 6 spots
- Platform - 7 spots
Divers who qualify can also enter other events at the championships, provided they finished in the top 12 at the zone meet and met the qualifying score. The stage is set for an exciting NCAA Championships, and these athletes are ready to dive into the spotlight.