(Beijing February 23) The "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 16th FINA Diving World Cup entered its fifth day today. In the women's 3m springboard semifinals, Wu Minxia maintain her momentum to finish first with a total score of 377.85pts, followed by her teammate Guo Jingjing by a margin of 5.15 and Sharleen Stratton of Australia.

A total of 18 divers competed in the semifinals this morning. In the first round, Guo Jingjing finished first with 76.50 in 205B (2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0), followed closely by Canadian veteran Blythe Michaela Hartley with 72.00 in 405B (inward 2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0), and Wu Minxia with 69.00 in the same dive.

In the second round, Guo scored 81.00 on an excellent dive of 305B (reverse 2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0). Wu moved to the second place with 78.30 in 5335D (reverse 1½ somersaults 2½ twists, DD 2.9). Christina Loukas of the United States finished third with 69.75 in 107B (forward 3½ somersaults piked, DD 3.1).

The third round saw Wu leading the group with 79.05 from her 107B (forward 3½ somersaults piked, DD 3.1). Guo followed suit with 68.20 on the same dive, trailing merely  0.65 point. Stratton was third with 71.40 in 107C (forward 3½ somersaults, DD 2.8).

In her fourth dive of 305B (reverse 2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0), Wu earned 75.00 to maintain her leading position, while Guo got 70.50 in 5152B (forward 2½ somersaults 1 twist piked, DD 3.0). Stratton was still third after a 305B, which earned her 66.00, despite a wide margin of 33.45 from Wu.

With her last dive of 205B (2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0) worth of 76.50 Wu secured her lead, while Guo finished second with the same score from a 405B (inward 2½ somersaults piked, DD 3.0). Stratton remained third with 69.00 in 5152B (forward 2½ somersaults 1 twist piked, DD 3.0).

Besides Wu Minxia, Guo Jingjing and Sharleen Stratton, nine divers including Christina Loukas of the USA, Anna Lindberg of Sweden, Chantelle Newbery of Australia and Blythe Michaela Munro Hartley of Canada qualified for the finals to be staged at 7 p.m. this evening.