The Woodlands’ Laura Wilkinson, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the platform, scored 362 total points in the preliminaries of the women’s 10-meter platform at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., Wednesday.
Wilkinson’s point total was less than two points ahead of Haley Ishimatsu of Indianapolis who finished in second place with a total score of 360.70.
Wilkinson’s best dive of the competition was a reverse 3 1/2 somersault tuck in which she scored an 81.6.
The 30-year-old is trying to make her third trip to the Olympics after finishing fifth in the event at the 2004 Games.
Wilkinson’s The Woodlands teammate Jessica Livingston finished day one in third place with a total of 358.4.
Montgomery’s Michelle Cabassol, the youngest participant in the event at 15 years old, finished sixth with a score of 303.95.
Conroe’s Vennie Dantin finished in 11th with a score of 232.65.
On the men’s side The Woodlands Diving Academy was also well represented with three participants in the 10-meter platform prelims including Drew Livingston (466.55) and JJ Kinzbach (428.4) who finished in third and fourth place, respectively. Spring’s Harrison Jones rounded out the list of local divers with a total of 397.3, good for eighth place.
The men’s platform semifinals will take place today at 6 p.m. while the women’s semis are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.
The women’s 3-meter springboard prelims will begin at noon today.
The winner of each event gains an automatic spot on the 2008 Olympic team. The top six in each event at the Olympic Trials will travel to a selection camp in July where the remaining Olympic team spots will be announced.

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