INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The veteran and the couple were 1-2 after 10 meters prior to the U.S. Olympic diving trials Wednesday night.

Laura Wilkinson 2000 Olympic platform champion looking for a third Olympic berth at age 30, a total of 362.00 points after five diving initial round.

Haley Ishimatsu, 15 years of Seal Beach, Calif., had 360.70 points.

“She gets better every year,” said Wilkinson on Ishimatsu. “I just have to keep chasing it and see if I can until they pass.”

Jessica Livingston, who trains with Wilkinson in The Woodlands, Texas, was third with 358.40.

All 12 women advanced to Friday from the semifinal round and its results bear along the Indiana University Natatorium. Only the winner of Sunday in the final guarantees an Olympic berth. The second point will be decided on July 7 after a selection camp in Knoxville, Tenn.

Wilkinson was never worse than third in the positions before meeting to take the lead in his last dive, a back 21 / 2 somersault with 11 / 2, it’s worth. She had an up and down performance, overrotating in his first two dives and creating big splashes. But Wilkinson showed his resolve to mark its third dive, which earned 8.5 and five 8.0s.

“My first dive is usually good for me. I had a bit of nerves and not read well,” he said. “That made me nervous in my second dive, usually a type of diving more difficult for me. In the third round I like, ‘OK, I’m ready to compete now.’ I would not have had to begin with, but I’m still learning. ”

Wilkinson began the competition 25 points ahead of anyone else, a reward for his fourth place last year at the world championships in Australia.

Ishimatsu the worst dive was also its toughest when it created a big splash upon entry of a second 31 / 2 somersault which carries a 3.6 degree of difficulty.

“I felt a little nervous. These trials. It’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “But once I got up, told me kind of myself,” I have competed against these people before. It’s really just another meet. ”

Viola Britain rose from last after the opening to the fourth round to 328.45. The daughter of the 1987 World Series MVP Frank Viola won two 9.0s for his final dive, the same as Wilkinson did move into first place.

Cardinello Cassandra, a 2004 who was seventh in the Olympic synchronized platform in Athens, was in the fifth.

Posted June 22nd, 2008 by admin No Comments »