August 13, 2007

World University Games: Cardinell, Livingston advance to women's platform finals
 
BANGKOK, Thailand - Cassandra Cardinell (Loudonville, N.Y./Indiana) and Jessica Livingston (The Woodlands, Texas/Texas) became the first U.S. diving finalists at the 2007 World University Games.

Cardinell finished fifth in the women's platform semifinals Monday, while Livingston was 10th. The top 12 divers advance to the finals, to be held Thursday.

Cardinell posted a total of 324.5 points, besting her prelims score of 304.95. Cardinell, who scored below 60 only once in her five dives, was in eighth place entering her final dive. She earned 71.40 points, her highest score of the semis, with a back 2 ½ somersault 1 ½ twists in the pike position.

Livingston finished the semis with 297.60 points, a score that nearly matched her preliminary mark of 298.65. The Texas product opened her competition with a forward 3 ½ somersault pike, earning 66.00 points. After three more dives, Livingston stood in 12th place, but a score of 69.70 on her closing dive bumped her into the top 10.

Mexico's Paola Espinosa was the top qualifier with 394.10 points. China's Lao Lishi (368.80) and Korea's Hong In Sun (328.05) rounded out the top three.

Diving action continues Tuesday with men's platform prelims and semifinals.

 More USA Diving News