Luke wins second straight diving title

Inglemoor High senior Stacey Luke came from behind to successfully defend her 4A state diving championship at Saturday's 4A state swim and dive meet at King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.

Heading into the finals, which consisted of three dives, Luke trailed Lake Washington's Anna Steiner 288.8 to 294 points. After closing the gap after her first dive with a beautiful inward 1 1/2 somersault, she wowed the crowd with an extremely difficult 1 1/2 twist back somersault attempt, on which she scored 41.4 points to take the lead after Steiner's 32.4-point effort on a forward 2 1/2 somersault.

Luke sealed the win with a near-perfect forward double somersault and a 44.85 net score, including many scores of 6.5 and 7 (out of seven) to give her a total of 412.7 to Steiner's 397.85.

Luke, who broke the school record, has received a scholarship to Fresno State.

During the swim portion of the meet, the four-time defending champion Vikings, who are rebuilding their perennially solid program this year, had two top-eight finishes.

Leann Yee nabbed the final spot in the 100-yard freestyle championship heat with a 54.55 in Friday's prelims, and she finished eighth with a time of 54.70. Kentlake sophomore Chelsea Bailey set a new state record in that event with a blistering time of 49.82.

The Viking relay squad of Claire Thompson, Katie Chapman, Liane Lovitt and Yee placed seventh with 1:44.16, and Bothell's team of Tiffany Dang, Katie Ellis, Katie Draper and Mariah Williamson finished eighth at 1:44.42, the Cougars' only appearance in a championship heat at state.

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