Field of top divers to compete at U
Many of the divers who will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics will be at University Aquatic Center this week.
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Many of the divers who will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics will be in the Twin Cities this week for the Speedo USA Diving Spring National Championships, which begin today at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
Competitors include 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2005 world champion Laura Wilkinson; 2004 Olympians Troy Dumais, Justin Wilcock and Cassandra Cardinell; and several defending national champions, including Olympic hopefuls David Boudia, Thomas Finchum and Haley Ishimatsu. Athletes with Minnesota ties include former Gophers diver Jessica Livingston and current Gophers Drew Brown, Cole Young and Jacqueline Schroeder.
The meet represents the final chance for divers to qualify for the June 18-22 Olympic trials in Indianapolis. For divers who already have qualified, it provides an opportunity to continue training toward the trials and the Beijing Olympics. "It's an important meet as a national championship,'' Boudia said. "It also gives us a chance to see who we'll be competing against at the trials and keep working toward that goal.''
The five-day meet starts today with men's and women's 1-meter semifinals and finals. Titles also will be awarded to men and women in 3-meter, 10-meter, 3-meter synchronized and 10-meter synchronized.
Competition starts with semifinals at 11 a.m. and finals at 7 p.m. today through Friday. Saturday and Sunday sessions begin at 1 p.m. All-session passes are $30 for adults and $22 for kids 4-12. Daily passes are $7.50 for adults and $5 for kids. For more information, go to www.usadiving.org.
