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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Amy Cozad and Jessica Parratto qualified for a second event for the World Cup with a 1-2 finish Saturday in the 10-meter final at the U.S. Winter Nationals.
Cozad's three-round total gave her a first-place score of 1,008.35 points. Parratto was second at 955.10, almost 14 points ahead of third-place finisher Tarrin Gilliand.
Cozad and Parratto already punched a ticket to the World Cup, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in the same pool where next summer's Olympics will take place. Parratto and Cozad won the 10-meter synchronized event Wednesday.
Krisitian Ipsen won the men's 3-meter springboard, finishing with 1,427.15 points. Michael Hixon was second at 1,397.20.
Cozad said every dive she does is to get her one step closer to the Olympic podium. She entered Saturday with a narrow lead over Gilliand, but instead of worrying about competition, the Indianapolis diver took an isolated approach.
"Forget about (everything else)," Cozad said. "The days and months before, every day I'd go into practice, I was preparing for this moment."
Parratto will take the next two months leading up to World Cup competition to improve for both individual and synchronized events.
"(Saturday) wasn't everything I wanted it to be, I missed on a few dives," Parratto said. "But I ended strong and I'm happy with that. I'm going to use this and figure out what I need to do at World Cup. Going with Amy gives me all the confidence in the world."
Ipsen protected his big lead.
"I'm really happy with this entire week," Ipsen said. "I feel like my experience has really taken over.
(Leading) is a difficult position to be in. Everyone says they don't focus on (points), but it's hard to stay focused when people are ripping dives right in front of you. They're all gunning for your spot."
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