Swimming

Farragut grad in 10-meter finals

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published July 28, 2005

LARGO - Austin Hampton is somewhat of a golden child.

He graduated third in his class at Admiral Farragut this past spring. He also is the reigning Class A diving champion, the Wendy's High School Heisman state winner and an Eagle Scout.

Sunday at the Southwest Aquatic Complex, he has a chance to become truly golden.

Hampton, who also will enter North Carolina State (on a diving scholarship) with 62 full college credits already earned, will be in the final 16 of the 10-meter platform at the AAU National Championships. His heat runs Sunday from 3-8 p.m., the final event of a weeklong competition.

"It all depends on his attitude coming in that day," West Florida Lightning Aquatics coach Tony Perriello said. "He's been to nationals, this is his type of competition. I would suspect he has top four expectations."

Hampton is the oldest member of team WFLA. He recently received first-team all-American honors from the National Swim Coaches Association (a fourth time) and he was first-team all-academic. For WFLA, host of the event and the only bay area team in the championship, it was another day of decent showings.

Brittany Mathers made the finals of the girls 12-13 3-meter springboard and finished 13th.

"Brittany kept up with the girls doing the more difficult dives," Perriello said.

Mathers used a two-and-a-half front pike and back one-and-a-half layout in the finals, which feature optional dives.

Thomas Whitsett placed 18th in the 1-meter springboard in the boys 12-13 group.

Today, the 10-11 boys compete on the 3-meter springboard and 10-11 girls on the 1 meter. The 16-18 girls will be on the 3 meters and 16-18 boys on the 1 meter.

[Last modified July 28, 2005, 01:10:15]