Two-tenths of a point.
Maybe a half-inch off perpendicular on one of 11 dives or an unpointed big toe.
Whatever the reason, it was enough to deny Cooper junior Peytton Moore a third straight state 1-meter diving title Thursday at the University of Kentucky’s Lancaster Aquatic Center. Instead, Madison Southern’s Reagan Patterson edged Cooper, 512.50-512.30.
“It was just a matter of pointing your toes, not pointing your toes, going over here, under-rotating here,” Cooper diving coach Kristina Jenny said. “It was a great meet.”
It was a record-setting day, too. Patterson and Moore bested the former state record 509.30 Becca Corbett of Sacred Heart set in 2012.
Moore led Patterson by a little less than four points, 359.40-355.45, with three dives to go.
Patterson chose a forward dive with 1 ½ somersaults and two twists, while Moore went with a back 1½ somersaults. Both over-rotated, but Moore led, 403.10-398.35, and eventually lengthened her lead to a little more than eight points with one dive left.
Moore and Patterson went with the same dive, a forward 2 ½ tuck, to finish their lists. Jenny said Moore switched from a back dive with a somersault with 2 ½ twists.
“Which was the first time she’s competed (with) that this year,” Jenny said.
The difference: Moore scored a 54.00, while Patterson won with a 62.40.
“I will say that her dive that she performed was much better than she did in warmups and was the best I’ve seen her do it,” Jenny said.
Oldham County’s Brooke Ronan was third with 410.70 points.
Northern Kentucky girls snagged four more spots in the top eight.
Simon Kenton’s Leigha Travis finished fourth with 397.40, Grace Hedger of Campbell County was fifth with 348.05, Savannah Bien of Villa Madonna was seventh with 344.65, and Highlands’ Addison Tinkler was eighth with 344.05.
To Peytton’s dad Scott, Thursday’s events were motivational.
“Her quote to us (was), ‘I’ll work hard and be back better next year’,” he wrote in a text message.
Buchart wins at the end
For a fleeting few minutes, there they were.
Ryle’s Landon Isler was first in the boys 1-meter with 517.75 points. Covington Catholic’s Jake Larkin was next with 495.65, and Dixie Heights’ Alex Warming was third with 473.
Lexington Catholic’s Miles Buchart, meanwhile, waited patiently as the penultimate competitor. On the final dive, he slipped past all three and won with 519.50 points.
The hardest thing might have been describing Isler’s post-meet mood; joyful, ecstatic or simply happy were three applicable adjectives.
“Well, first of all, I got my highest score that I’ve ever gotten in a dive meet, and it’s in a state meet,” Isler said. “Gertting second when last year I got fifth last year is awesome.
“I got six of my 11 dives, I got the best score I’ve gotten on ‘em.”
Isler really enjoyed the final dive, a reverse 2 ½ somersault tuck because he received 60 points.
“It’s just so good,” Isler said. “It was a good meet.”
Kevin McElheney coaches Isler, Warning and Larkin at the Cincinnati Diving Academy.
“And actually, Miles, the boy that won, dove for me for four years and broke his leg twice,” McElheney said. “ … I feel like my boys went 1-2-3-4, let’s just put it that way.”
Isler, Warning and Larkin mostly stayed atop the standings in the early rounds. After three dives, Isler was first with 127.50 points, Warning was second with 124.65, and Larkin was fourth with 123.75.
Larkin’s downfall was his fifth dive, a reverse 1½ somersault tuck. He scored just 28.35 points.
“I thought he had a great second half of the meet,” McElheney said.
McElheney said Warning hit the board during warmups and bruised an Achilles tendon. “He muscled through,” McElheney said. “He did well for what happened.”
Girls preliminary swimming races begin at 10:15 a.m. Friday. The finals start at 6:45 p.m.