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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:59 p.m., Sunday, April 20, 2008

Diving: Boudia, Foster capture titles at nationals

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — David Boudia won the 10-meter diving title and Nancilea Foster took the 3-meter crown today, capturing their events for the second straight year at the USA Spring Diving National Championships.

It was the sixth straight major national meet in which Boudia and Thomas Finchum finished 1-2 in the 10-meter event. Boudia has come in first in three of those meets, with Finchum taking the title in the other three.

In all six of those meets, including this week's at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, Boudia and Finchum, close friends from Indiana, paired to take the men's 10-meter synchronized championship.

The top eight finishers in each event qualify for the Olympic diving trials, which start June 18 in Indianapolis.

"I'm very happy we did it again," Boudia said. "After the meet, Thomas came up to me and said he was never so happy to get second. We're behind each other 100 percent. Hopefully we can continue this through the summer."

Boudia finished with 523.85 points. Finchum, who was given a 10 from one judge on his fifth dive, wound up with 496.10 points.

"This shows that our coaching is strong," said Boudia, who along with Finchum are coached by John Wingfield, an associate head coach at the National Training Center in Indianapolis.

Also gaining a score of 10 from the judges were Nick McCrory and Sean Moore. McCrory finished third and Moore fifth.

Foster won her second straight national title in the 3-meter dive, coming from third place to the top of the standings in her last three dives to get past Chrisina Loukas and Allison Brennan.

"I usually don't think about where I am, but I knew I had to nail my last one," said Foster.

She did, scoring 76.50 on a reverse 2½ pike that pushed her past Loukas with a score of 345.15. Loukas finished second with 332.90, while Brennan was third at 327.45.

"The last dive my favorite moment," said Foster, who's been urged during practice to visualize needing a good score in the final round to win a title. "It's the culmination of all that you're working for."

Allison Brennan finished third and Chelsea Davis was fourth.

"There are a lot of great divers out there," Foster said. "The US is very deep in this event."