Yarrison finishes U.S. Open Diving Championships with sixth-place finish on three-meter board
INDIANAPOLIS -- Texas junior Mary Yarrison concluded competition at the 2006 Speedo U.S. Open Championships Sunday by placing sixth in the senior women's three-meter diving finals at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI. The sixth-place finish followed Yarrison's fourth-place standing in the 1-meter finals two days earlier. The gold, silver and bronze medalists in the 3-meter competition were claimed by the three divers who earned similar honors on the 1-meter board at the U.S. Open on April 21. Kelsi Bryant, a 17-year old diver from Chatham, Ill., was crowned three-meter champion as she finished the finals with a score of 335.25. The 2005 U.S. National one-meter champion, Bryant also claimed the USA Open one-meter title two days earlier. Bryant held a significant edge over runner-ups Christina Loukas (310.80) from Indiana University and University of Hawaii diver QiongJie Huang (288.45) in the 3-meter finals. Allison Brennan (281.25), Amanda Miller (279.60) and Yarrison (273.00) followed in the scoring order. Yarrison, who hails from Springfield, Va., advanced to the 12-diver finals after placing fourth (with 272.20) following Sunday morning's semifinal round. The leader going into the finals was Huang, who held a slight edge (311.05 points) over Loukas (309.55). Byrant was third (302.85) entering the final round. In the individual high point awards final standings at the conclusion of the meet, Yarrison tied for sixth in the field of 34 female divers. Yarrison and Marie Canarecci each totaled 34 points in the three-day competition. The high point female diver award went to Loukas, who scored 62 points at the meet, while Bryant (60 points) was second. Also competing at the U.S. Open was former UT great and two-time Olympian Laura Wilkinson (Spring, Texas). Wilkinson won the gold medal in women's platform diving Saturday (April 22) evening. Wilkinson scored 359.30 points to edge out silver medalist Haley Ishimatsu (Seal Beach, Calif.), who finished with 338.95 points. Katie Bell (Columbus, Ohio) totaled 315.90 points to earn the bronze medal. Yarrison just completed her first season at UT after transferring from the University of Arizona. A 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials diving participant, Mary earned 2006 All-Big 12 honors in March after finishing first in the 3-meter and second in the 1-meter springboard competitions at the conference championships earlier this spring.
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