Four-Day Diving Competition Begins Today in Mission Viejo

More than 300 participants are expected to compete today through Sunday at the Mission Viejo International Diving Complex in the largest diving competition scheduled for the West Coast this year.

The four-day event combines the 1986 Western Regional Junior Olympic Championships, featuring accomplished age-group divers from nine states, and the Southern California Open Championships, with many of the sport’s best Senior National divers.

The springboard events of the junior championships will be held today and Friday. The Mission Viejo Nadadores’ age-group team, the defending national champion, is led by All-American 16-year-olds Dan Nash, Julie Handren and Lisa Hecker.

The competition is divided into four age groups for both boys and girls: 10 and under, 11 to 12, 13 to 14 and 15 to 17.

The open championships will be held Saturday and Sunday. All platform events, including the age-group finals, are scheduled for Sunday.

Many 1988 Olympic hopefuls will compete, including five members of the Nadadores’ Senior National Team who already have qualified for the U.S. Diving Outdoor National Championships in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 6-10.

The Mission Viejo meet will begin each day at 9 a.m. and continue into early evening.