U.S. Olympic Diving Trials : McCormick and Lucero Earn Berths in 3-Meter Event

Kelly McCormick, the 1984 Olympic silver medalist in women’s springboard diving, and Wendy Lucero earned places on the U.S. Olympic diving team in 3-meter competition Thursday.

“It was just as tough this year, if not harder,” said McCormick, who finished with 1107.12 points despite being bothered by a pulled calf muscle that limited her physical training since January.

“It hurts. I could have probably let it affect me, but you’ve got to get out there and perform, do the best you can,” said McCormick, 28, who called her performance in the finals one of the most consistent of her career.

She received 14 scores of 9, and her low award was a 6.5 on her final dive. By that time, victory was assured.

Lucero, 25, claimed the other spot on the Olympic team with 1030.98 points, edging out her Kimball’s Divers teammate, Mary Fischbach, who earned the alternate spot by placing third with 1030.17.

Lucero was fifth going into the finals and was still in that position at the midway point of the 10-round competition. She moved into second in the seventh round with a reverse 2 1/2 somersault in the tuck position that netted her 63.84 points, gained 63.51 points with a reverse 1 1/2 that included 2 1/2 twists and earned the Olympic spot with her top score of the night--a 65.61 score on her final effort, an inward 2 1/2 somersault in the tuck position.

Earlier Thursday, Greg Louganis the defending Olympic gold medalist in springboard and platform diving, scored 722.88 points to lead after the preliminary round of the men’s springboard competition.

Kent Ferguson, who has been training with Louganis the past 2 1/2 years at Boca Raton, Fla., was second with 678.90 points, with Mark Bradshaw third with 660.84.

Patrick Jeffrey is fourth with 638.55 points in the men’s competition, followed by Ron Meyer with 624.60. Bruce Kimball, competing despite the controversy surrounding his involvement in the trials, was sixth with 601.14.

All 12 men competing on Thursday moved into tonight’s finals and carry their preliminary scores with them under the new international format being used this year.

The top two scorers in each event earn a berth on the U.S. team for the Olympics in Seoul.