CSUN’s Burton Tries to Make a Splash

In her freshman year, Dawn Burton dipped into history for Cal State Northridge.

Burton is the first Matador diver to qualify for the women’s NCAA Division I swimming and diving championships that begin today in Indianapolis. Northridge has competed in Division I for four years.

She will compete in all three diving events with a solid performance in a qualifying meet last weekend at USC.

Burton finished first on the 10-meter platform with 355.90 points, defeating Stefanie Forrest (348.65) of Stanford. Burton placed fifth on the three-meter springboard (420.30), finishing 72.55 points behind Maria Elena Romera of USC. Burton qualified for the one-meter springboard event last November.

“I was really happy (with the 10-meter victory),” Burton said. “I didn’t miss any dives. I was a little worried about the headstand dives because I had two of them and it was really windy. At Indianapolis the pool is really nice and indoors so I’m excited.”

Northridge sophomore Sara Cassady and junior Jaime Herrera competed in the zone meet but did not qualify for the championships. Cassady finished ninth on the women’s three-meter springboard and Herrera placed 18th on the men’s three-meter springboard.

Burton, 18, finished second in the Southern Section Division II championships last year for Long Beach Millikan.

The championships begin with the one-meter competition today, followed by the three-meter event on Friday. The platform event is Saturday. “If the scores stay the same, her platform score could qualify for the finals,” Northridge diving Coach Roland King said.