Indiana University Athletics
Hildebrand/Wilkinson Battle
4/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
April 13, 2003
WILKINSON EDGES HILDEBRAND DURING MATCHUP OF 2000 OLYMPIANS AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS
Athens, Ga. -- It ended just as one might expect. The two United States representatives on 10-Meter Platform at the 2000 Olympics - current IU senior Sara Hildebrand and Olympic gold medallist Laura Wilkinson - had essentially clinched World Championships berths in that event heading down the stretch during this evening's World Diving Trials on the campus of the University of Georgia. After the eighth round of the nine-round competition, Wilkinson held less than a 10-point lead over Hildebrand. Interestingly, both divers looked to one of their bread-and-butter dives, 5253B, which is a back 2 1/2 summersault, 1 1/2 twist from a pike position. Both nailed it.While Hildebrand notched 9.0's across the board on the high degree-of-difficulty dive, Wilkinson's 8.5's were enough to narrowly edge the Roseville, Minn., product, who capped a late charge to clinch the berth during the eighth round when she received a 7.0, an 8.0, three 8.5s, two 9.0s, and a 9.5 on 305C, a 2.7 degree-of-difficulty reverse 2 1/2 summersault from the tuck position that vaulted her to the top of the pack with one-round remaining. Hildebrand, diving sixth in the eight-person finals, looked to have won the event after her 9.0's on her final dive but Wilkinson responded with a dive that was nearly as impressive later in the round to edge Hildebrand, 994.17-990.51. The 15-year-old daughter of former Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola finished a distant third (921.93), NCAA platform champion Natalia Diea of Ohio State was fourth (919.65), and IU junior Cassandra Cardinell finished seventh (843.12). Bloomington South senior and IU signee Lindsay Weigle finished 12th in this morning's preliminaries with a score of 336.69.
By virtue of their first- and second-place finishes, Wilkinson and Hildebrand will represent the United States on 10-Meter platform at the 2003 World Diving Championships in Barcelona, Spain, this summer. Hildebrand will also compete on 3-Meter and on 3-Meter Synchro, along with IU teammate Cardinell.
In tonight's men's final on 3-Meter, Troy Dumais finished first (1,272.39), while former IU standout Tom Davidson was fifth (1,128.38), and current IU junior Marc Carlton finished eighth (1,076.43).
The 10th FINA World Championships will take place July 13-20, in Barcelona, Spain.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and DivingWednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11