University of Tennessee Athletics
Jones Earns Spot on U.S. World Championship Team
April 14, 2003 | Men's Swimming & Diving
April 14, 2003
Phillip Jones finished in second-place on the three-meter springboard this past weekend at the 2003 World Championship Team Trials in Athens, Ga. With his score of 1,228.86, Jones earned a spot on the four-man U.S. World Championship Team.
Only the top two divers in each individual event and the top team in each synchronized event are named to the World Championship team. One-meter participants will be selected from team members by the coaching staff.
Jones will be joining three-time World Championship Team member Troy Dumais at the World Championships. The 10th FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) World Championships will take place July 13-20, in Barcelona, Spain.
"I am really excited about this opportunity," Jones said. "I have never been to Barcelona, so it should be fun. This also gives me a lot of confidence for the Olympic Trials next year. It will be basically the same format with just the top two divers making the Olympic squad."
Jones is coached by Dave Parrington, the head diving coach at the University of Tennessee. "This was a huge meet for Phil," Parrington said. "It is a big, big meet. It is second only to the Olympic Trials."
By virtue of their first and second place finishes, Dumais and Jones will also compete at the FINA/USA Diving Grand Prix, May 8-11, in The Woodlands, Texas. Justin Wilcock and Tennessee signee Jevon Tarantino also earned roster spots on the Grand Prix team by placing third and fourth, respectively. The FINA/USA Diving Grand Prix is the sole U.S. stop on the 10-country FINA international tour.
| World Championship Team | ||
| Cassandra Cardinell | S3M | Loudonville, N.Y. |
| Sara Hildebrand | 3M, PL, S3M | St. Paul, Minn. |
| Justin Dumais | PL, S3M, SPL | Ventura, Calif. |
| Troy Dumais | 3M, S3M, SPL | Ventura, Calif. |
| Brittany Viola | SPL | Orlando, Fla. |
| Laura Wilkinson | PL, SPL | Woodlands, Texas |
| Rachelle Kunkel | 3M | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Mark Ruiz | PL | Orlando, Fla. |
| Phil Jones | 3M | Fishers, Ind. |
