BY Moultrie Observer

Elizabeth Ann Kirkland turned in an outstanding performance on Friday, taking first place in the 21-girl field of the middle school diving meet held at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

Kirkland scored a 231.40 to win over Atlanta’s Lauren Hall, Georgia’s Junior Olympic Female Diver of the Year, who finished second.

“She did great,” coach Ed Good-man said of Kirkland. “She had nothing less than a 6 on a dive until the last round. That’s outstanding.”

Ana Jimenez placed seventh with a 168.52,

Haley Goodman was 10th with a 144.75 and Bethia Dawson was 15th with a 127.30.

“That was the first middle school meet for Haley and Bethia,” Goodman said.

Colquitt County nearly pulled off a sweep of the championships with Tevin Hightower finishing second with a 195.60.

“Tevin did a great job,” Goodman said. “He had a real good shot at winning.

“That was the best I’ve seen him dive.”

The middle school diving team will compete again next month in a meet at Marist.

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