An intriguing first set of finals at the Speedo Aquatics GB Diving Championships are in store tomorrow (Friday 24th May) after a top-class opening set of prelims at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
Commonwealth champion Dan Goodfellow returned to the pool that brought him that Birmingham 2022 title by qualifying top for a stacked Men's 3m Springboard showpiece, before Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix led home the Women's 10m Platform prelims as she looks to defend her British crown.
While eight athletes - including Spendolini-Sirieix - are already selected for Team GB's Olympic diving team heading to Paris in the summer as part of the recent synchronised pair nominations, two Olympic places in each of the individual events are still up for grabs, with automatic nomination available if a diver wins the event and surpasses pre-set points tallies in both the prelims and final.
Spendolini-Sirieix went past the nomination standard mark in the prelims for the Women's 10m Platform, thanks in part to a rip-roaring fourth-round Reverse 2 1/2 Somersaults Tuck (305C) that earned her 74.20 points on the way to an overall tally of 336.30. That means she will dive last in Friday's final (part of the 6pm evening session), immediately after Lois Toulson and guest diver Else Guurtje Praasterink of the Netherlands, who ranked second (on 314.30 points) and third (301.05) respectively in the prelims, Toulson closing out her list with a strong finish.
Before that, spectators in the Sandwell Aquatics Centre stands were given a sneak peek of just how closely-fought the Men's 3m Springboard final will be, as Goodfellow came out on top of a nip-and-tuck prelims contest.
Goodfellow's consistency throughout - topped by a Forward 2 1/2 Somersaults Triple Twist (5156B0) worth 83.85 points - saw him ensure he will dive last in the final, as his overall tally of 444.15 edged Jordan Houlden - on 443.45 - into second in the prelims by less than a point.
Ross Haslam - on 425.35 - was third, triple Olympic medallist Jack Laugher fourth and Matthew Dixon fifth, all over 420 points, to set up what is a finale not to be missed from 6pm on Friday, across the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer and the red button (full links below).
Full results and entry lists are available on DiveRecorder.
HOW TO WATCH
Tickets are still available for fans who want to see those athletes vying for Olympic spots compete in the same pool that brought some incredible performances at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - you can secure your seats here.
For those not sat in the Sandwell Aquatics Centre stands, every finals session will be broadcast live on the BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app. Those sessions are:
Friday 24th May, 6pm - Men's 3m Springboard Final and Women's 10m Platform Final
Saturday 25th May, 4pm - Women's 10m Synchro Final and Women's 3m Springboard Final
Sunday 26th May, 11am - Men's 3m Synchro Final and Women's 3m Synchro Final
Sunday 26th May, 3pm - Men's 10m Platform Final
Every other session will be streamed live on the Aquatics GB YouTube channel.