Laguna resident earns bronze at nationals

Laguna Beach’s Liv Mitchell earned the bronze medal for her 3-meter dive at the 2009 AAU Diving National Championships, held at Indiana University from July 25-29.

Mitchell, representing Crown Valley Divers, competed in the 9-and-under age group for the 1- and 3-meter events. She placed third in the 3-meter with her score of 107.25. In the final round of the 1-meter, she injured her Achilles by hitting the board on her second dive. But Mitchell, 9, was still able to finish the meet after completing her next dive, a reverse dive tuck. She placed eighth, with a score of 81.20.

There were 262 athletes competing in 561 events at the meet, a Junior Olympic-level competition.

Mitchell, competing in her first national level event, practiced twice a day this summer to prepare. She made the Junior Olympic level in early June and it was her third Junior Olympic competition.

She was accompanied by her coaches at Crown Valley Diving, Rich and Ila Wilson.

“” Matt Szabo