March 23, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – Allison Brennan finished sixth in the 1-meter finals at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia on Friday.

Brennan (Huntington Beach, Calif.) scored 287.75 points in the finals, improving her score from the semis by 17.80 points. Brennan advanced to the finals after finishing third in semifinal A with 269.95 points on Thursday.

China’s He Zi won the gold with 316.65 points, and silver went to Canada’s Blythe Hartley at 311.20 points. Russia’s Yuliya Pakhalina scored 304.60 points for bronze.

“Every competition’s a tough competition. You’ve got the best athletes in the world here. It was fun,” said Brennan, who finished seventh on 1-meter at the 2006 World Cup.

Less than four points separated third and sixth place heading into the final round, but Pakhalina walked with the bronze after receiving five 9.0 marks on her last dive.

Brennan, a four-time All-American, competed for the Gamecocks from 2002-2006 and was first NCAA Champion for the Gamecock swimming and diving program. She won the one-meter in 2004 and finished third in 2006. Brennan also was a two-time SEC Champion.