Albert Lea diver Karli Kriewall sat in fifth place Thursday after the state diving preliminary round at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

According to head coach Jon Schmitz, the defending state champion and runner-up have seperated themselves from the pack, so Kriewall and the other divers and fighting for third place.

Her best dive of the day was a forward 1 1/2 pike which received three ‘8s’ from the judges.

“It was one of the best dives I’ve ever seen her do,” Schmitz said. “She looked good and competed well today.”

Kriewall begins the state diving finals at noon on Saturday.