Louganis, Smith Lead Qualifiers in 3-Meter Springboard Competition

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Greg Louganis withstood the heat and long waits to lead Tuesday’s qualifying in the 3-meter springboard competition of the U.S. Diving Outdoor Championships.

For the first time in a decade, Louganis, 27, of Boca Raton, Fla., isn’t defending a title. His score of 638.61 points on 11 first-round dives at Frontier Park Pool gave him an 18-point margin over the second-place qualifier, Ron Meyer of Baton Rouge, La. Meyer’s score was 620.64, while Doug Shaffer of Boca Raton was third with 614.73 points.

Defending champion Kent Ferguson of Boca Raton was sixth with 584.70 points.

The top 12 qualifiers from among 37 competitors move into the men’s 3-meter finals scheduled for Friday.

In the preliminary round for the women’s 10-meter platform, Cokey Smith, 22, of Ann Arbor, Mich., led with 356.49 points. Alison Maisch, 20, of Baton Rouge, was second with 344.04.

Defending women’s platform champion Michele Mitchell fought her way to third place in the preliminary competition after being 36th after the second dive. She had 342.99 points.

The competition continues through Saturday, when finals are scheduled in both men’s and women’s 10-meter platform diving.

More than 100 divers are competing in the 3-meter and 1-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform. The results will be used to determine American team members for the Pan American Games at Indianapolis Aug. 7-23.

The two highest scorers in the 3-meter and platform competitions will represent the United States in the Pan American Games. The top eight finalists will earn berths on the U.S. national team.