MONTEREY PARK, Calif. – Caltech sophomore and diving program record setter Jana Woo (Saratoga, Calif. Monta Vista) made history at the 2023-24 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Swimming & Diving Championships, winning the 3-Meter Dive event to capture an individual title of SCIAC Champion.

A feat of both strong execution and high ambition, Woo's 11-dive program had the highest degree of difficulty of all 15 divers in the championship final (23.80), and she rose to the immense task by posting a score of 459.00, outscoring the second- and third-place finishers by 23.1 and 39.2 points, respectively.

"I was freaking out, to be honest," Woo said about the progression of the event. "I didn't know how I was doing, since I didn't want to look at the placements throughout each round, so I would basically just go to the locker room, listen to some music, try to calm myself down but also keep good energy flowing."

After her final dive, she wanted to let Diving Coach Fran Jobes look at the placements before viewing them herself, but Woo said her coach's beaming smile hinted at something very good. "I ran to check it out, saw that I was first, and I immediately gave Fran a hug and started crying and celebrating with my teammates."

Woo's strategy was to focus on her own challenging dive program while tuning out her 14 challengers in the event. After competing in the 1-meter dive event on the first day of the four-day meet, she decided to change up the order of her dives, resulting in a front-loaded program with her highest degree-of-difficulty dives in the early rounds and saving the relatively easier ones for later. Owing both to her dive order and her performance, she held first place after eight dives by a thin margin of 8.35 points, only to extend that lead through the last three rounds.

"It was a fun day to be a coach," said Jobes. "Jana has been focused and consistent on the boards this entire season and has worked really hard on her physical strength and competition readiness. Her gorgeous and powerful diving combined with her hard work and sportsmanship throughout the year are truly inspiring. I can't wait to see what she does from here!"

Caltech Swim & Dive Head Coach Andy Brabson was naturally similarly elated for Woo's achievement. "We are extremely proud of Jana and the work she has put in this season," he said. "Her SCIAC Championship on 3-meter is a testament to her dedication and resilience. We are looking forward to seeing her compete at NCAA Regionals in a week!"

Indeed, Woo will make her second trip to NCAA Diving Regionals beginning on Friday, Mar.1, competing in the Region #2 (Midwest-South-West) event hosted by Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.