David Boudia and Nick McCrory dazzled in the men’s 10-meter platform semifinals Tuesday night in Federal Way, trading blows in a back-and-forth showcase at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for diving.
After leading by four points following the morning’s preliminaries, McCrory couldn’t hold off his 10-meter synchronized platform partner when he faltered early in the semifinals. Boudia finished with 1083.75 points after retaking the top spot on his first attempt by executing an armstand double back with 2 ½ twists.McCrory recovered to stay within range of overtaking Boudia in Saturday’s finals by connecting on his armstand double back somersault with 1½ twists in the second round, earning four 10’s from the judges. He finished with 1043.95 points.
I dug myself into a hole in the first round, but I was able to bounce back. Sometimes the competition helps and you can really feed off it, McCrory said.
The Duke Blue Devil had no choice but to respond on a night Boudia owned. Boudia earned a total of 11 perfect 10’s, five of which came on an inward 3 1/2-flip tuck in the semifinals.
The pair’s duel left the rest of the field well behind by night’s end. Thomas Finchum enters the finals in third place, trailing a second-place McCrory by nearly 100 points.
Count Boudia among those impressed with the way his U.S. Diving teammate competed with his nearly flawless performance.
Im proud of how Nick handled that,” Boudia said about McCrory’s ability to respond while facing intense pressure. “Its not easy to go after 10s, and I was impressed with his mental toughness.”
In women’s competition, Cassidy Krug pulled ahead in the 3-meter springboard by posting 718.85 points, taking a lead into the finals over former Olympian Christina Loukas. The top two finishers in each division earn a trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
