Germans dominate cliff diving invitational challenge

NASUGBU, Batangas, Philippines – Jan Heinzel scored a breakthrough title as he led a German 1-2 blitz in the fourth Club Punta Fuego and Rider Cliff Diving Invitational Challenge on a windy and cloudy Saturday at Punta del Sol Peninsula here.

Heinzel earned 275 points from the judges after four rounds of impressive dives to romp off with the crown in the premier High Diving title, which was vacated by 2014 Brazilian winner Jucelino de Alves who couldn’t come due to commitment back home.

His compatriot Christian Wurst took runner-up honors with 261.55 as they completed the German domination of the five-man cast who jumped in the 20-meter and 15-meter platforms.

Liam Atkins of Australia netted the bronze with 257.1 while Andreas Hullinger of Switzerland, who was second last year, settled for fourth this time with 240.45, and Filipino Olympian Zardo Domenios, who leapt on a 15-meter platform for the first time, wound up fifth with 221.35.

Local youngsters D’xismen Dumaguit and Riza Jane Domenios shared the limelight as they reigned in the youth boys’ and girls’ competitions held on 10-meter platform. Dumaguit scored 137.45 to beat John Elmerson Fabriga (125) and Anjoe Loberanes (107.9) while Domenios normed 78.55 to win the tiara over Hazel Bernadette Abiera (65.25) and Kathleen Mae Eban (51.4).

“I’m very happy with myself,” Heinzel said after striking gold on his first stint in Phl.

The 24-year-old Heinzel capped his performance by fluidly executing a 5163 forward triple somersault 1-1/2 twist – a dive he was not really accustomed to – and got a pair of 7.5s and a 7 in the judges’ scorecards.

“Actually the fourth dive was new for the season; I didn’t do it for more than seven months so I was quite nervous. But I did well, got good scores so I’m happy,” he said, adding the victory would boost his confidence as he gears up for the European High Diving Championship in July.

Pinoy Sydney Olympics veteran Domenios, meanwhile, was quite satisfied with his performance, considering it was his first time to do new dives like forward double somersault half twist and inward double somersault half twist and off the 15-meter platform.

“There were dives that I did for the first time so I had difficulty with the new dives,” Domenios said in Filipino.

The winning divers received their awards from officials of Club Punta Fuego and ELRO Retail Corporation, exclusive distributor of co-presenter Rider Sandals.