Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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UH divers win 3-meter events
Led by wins in the 3-meter competitions by Raquel Bartlow and Mats Wiktorsson, Hawaii divers had a strong showing on the opening day of the Rainbow Diving Invitational at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex yesterday.
All-Americans Wiktorsson and Magnus Frick finished 1-2 in the men's competition, with Wiktorsson edging Frick by less than two points (364.25-362.30). Connecticut's Michael Clifford was a distant third at 255.65.
The Wahine also went 1-2 with Emma Friesen taking second 5.4 points behind Bartlow (292.00-286.60). UCLA All-American Marissa Samaniego, who won the preliminary, finished third at 279.05.
The Invitational continues today with the women's platform competition at 11 a.m. The men's 1-meter finals start at 1 p.m., followed by the women's 1-meter finals.
Smethurst trying out for Olympic team
Hawaii junior pitcher Justine Smethurst is taking a one-semester hiatus from the Rainbow Wahine softball team to try out for the Australian national team that will compete in this summer's Olympics in China.
Smethurst is a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection and earned All-West Region first-team honors last season.
Joining her on the team are former Wahine standouts Kate Judd (2000-03), Stacey Porter (2001-03), and Felicity Witt (2001). The AIS squad will be cut to 15 players and three alternates during the Olympic selection camp Feb. 7-10.
Donovan receives UH service award
Former Hawaii football player Jim Donovan, the executive director of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, has been named the recipient of this year's Kane Fernandez Community Service Award.
The annual award, given by the UH Letterwinners Club, is presented to a former UH letterwinner for volunteer work in the community.
Wahine fifth in water polo poll
The Hawaii women's water polo team was picked fifth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation preseason coaches poll.
UCLA, with 132 points, received 11 of 12 first-place votes en route to the No. 1 spot. USC, with 116 points, was second followed by Cal and Stanford, tied for third with 107 points. The Golden Bears received the remaining first-place vote.
Hawaii opens this year on the road at Pacific Feb. 6.
Vulcans stay unbeaten in PWC play
Sheila Azevedo scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Hawaii-Hilo women's basketball team to an 83-77 victory over Grand Canyon at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Nesha Kimitete added 16 points for the Vulcans (5-7, 5-0).
Rosalyn Nelson led the Antelopes (9-9, 5-2) with 22 points.
» Chaminade's winless season continued yesterday as the Silverswords (0-13, 0-6) lost to Notre de Namur 78-55 at McCabe Gym. The Argonauts improved to 2-10 and 2-2.
» Rodrick Johnson scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Chaminade won its seventh straight last night, defeating Notre Dame de Namur 66-58 at McCabe Gym.
The Silverwords (11-4, 6-0) also got a double-double from Marco Kolaric (13 points, 15 rebounds) and 10 points from Stewart Kussler. The Argonauts (4-8, 0-4), outrebounded 47-24, got 20 points from Ryan Cooper.
» Vince Alvarado scored 21 points and John Smith added 19 but it wasn't enough as Hawaii-Hilo fell to Grand Canyon 88-81 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. The Vulcans dropped to 7-5, 3-2) while the 'Lopes improved to 9-5 and 4-3.