Kinzbach, Viola Open Olympic Trials With Fourth Place Finishes
June 19, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Miami divers Brittany Viola and J.J. Kinzbach each turned in fourth place finishes on the first day of qualifying at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Diving Trials at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI. Both Hurricanes are competing for an a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Viola, a sophomore from Orlando, Fla, put in a fourth-place finish of 328.45 on five dives Wednesday, putting her behind 2000 Olympic gold medalist Laura Wilkinson, who is currently in first with a score of 362.00, Haley Ishimatsu (360.70) and Jessica Livingston (358.40). After scoring an average of 56.4 on her first two dives, Viola put in scores of 72.00, 73.95 and 69.70 to put her into the top third of the field after the quarterfinal round.
Kinzbach, a freshman from Montgomery, Texas, also came away with a fourth place finish, earning a total score of 428.40 on six dives. Showing improvement on each of his first three dives, Kinzbach started with a 61.50 before scoring 76.80 and 85.80 on his next two dives. After a 45.90 score on his fourth dive, Kinzbach bounced back with marks of 76.90 and 81.60 on his final two dives. David Boudia earned the top total score of the day, 572.65, followed by Thomas Finchum’s 523.95 and Drew Livingston’s 466.55.
Former Hurricane Heather Bounds put in a 10th place finish, also in the platform, with a score of 233.85 after scores of 49.50, 54.50, 34.65, 42.50 and 52.80.
The semifinal round of the men’s event is slated for Thursday with the women’s scheduled for Friday night. The finals for both the men’s and women’s platform will be televised live on Sunday on NBC from 3-4 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. EST.
For more information on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, click here.
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Platform Trials
Preliminary/Quarterfinals
Women
1. Laura Wilkinson 362.00
2. Haley Ishiumatsu 360.70
3. Jessica Livingston 358.40
4. Brittany Viola 328.45
5. Cassandra Cardinell 315.00
6. Michelle Cabassol 303.95
7. Mary-Beth Dunnichay 285.45
8. Lindsay Weigle 261.10
9. Kristen Asman 241.75
10. Heather Bounds 233.85
11. Vennie Dantin 232.65
12. Amy Korthauer 210.50
Men
1. David Boudia 572.65
2. Thomas Finchum 523.95
3. Drew Livingston 466.55
4. J.J. Kinzbach 428.40
5. David Colturi 412.80
6. Daniel Mazzaferro 409.90
7. Weston Wieser 400.40
8. Harrison Jones 397.30
9. Nick McCrory 392.45
10. Matthew Cooper 385.55
11. Sean Moore 248.10
