Indiana University Athletics
Cardinell, Wilkinson Third After Prelims at Worlds
7/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
July 17, 2005
MONTREAL, Canada - Graduated senior Cassandra Cardinell and her partner Laura Wilkinson sit in third place after the preliminary round of synchronized platform diving at the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal. The pair posted a 319.44, just 12.42 points off the lead pace. The Chinese tandem of Tong Jia and Pei Lin Yuan are in first with 331.86 points, while Australian's Loudy Tourkey and Chantelle Newbery sit in second after tallying a 321.30.
In a similar fashion to her amazing title-winning performance at the 2005 NCAA Championship, Cardinell, along with Wilkinson, fell behind early. After falling back to as far as eighth place at the completion of the third round, the duo made a remarkable comeback to vault into third place.
In the fourth round, Cardinell and Wilkinson posted the second-best pair of inward three-and-a-half somersault tucks to move into third. The effort earned a 75.84, just behind China's 82.56.
In the fifth-and-final frame of preliminary diving, Cardinell and Wilkinson nailed the best dive of the afternoon. Scoring a total of 86.70 from an incredible mirrored back two-and-a-half somersault one-and-a-half twist pike, the duo moved a scant 1.86 points behind the Australian's heading into finals.
