U.S. Duo Wins Three-Meter Synchro Diving Title at International Camo Invitational

MONTREAL, Canada, December 8. USA's Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse won the women's synchronized three-meter title Thursday at the International CAMO Invitational.

The CAMO meet features divers from 12 countries, with many of the world's top divers – including a number of USA Diving's national team members – taking part. The meet, which is doubling as a selection for Canada's 2008 World Cup team, runs through Sunday, December 9. Many of the U.S. divers in attendance will be looking for World Cup team spots of their own next month when the U.S. conducts its World Cup selection camp from January 20-24 at Columbus, Ohio.

Bryant and Rittenhouse were the only synchro team to score more than 60 points on all three optional dives as they finished with 294.90 points. Canada's Meaghan Benfeito and Jennifer Abel were second at 286.71, and Great Britain's Tandi Gerrard and Hayley Sage scored 266.79 points for third.

Bryant also placed fifth in the individual 3-meter competition with 306.65 points. USA's Christina Loukas scored 321.45 points for second, and Allison Brennan was fourth at 307.15. Blythe Hartley of Canada won the title with 353.55 points, and Australian Chantelle Newbery was third at 312.10.

In Friday's men's 3-meter synchro action, 2007 World Championship silver medalists Alexandre Despatie and Arturo Miranda of Canada scored 422.76 for first, but U.S. teams claimed the second and third spots. Chris Colwill and Jevon Tarantino competing together for the first time since Colwill broke his foot in late June, scored 407.19 for second, and David Boudia and Thomas Finchum were third with 399.75 points. Colwill and Tarantino won the Speedo USA Diving Spring National Championship and medaled in three FINA Grand Prix meets, including a gold in Italy, before Colwill's injury sidelined the pair at the 2007 Kaiser Permanente National Championships in August.

Colwill and Tarantino also placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the individual 3-meter contest. Colwill scored 436.35, and Tarantino finished with 427.65 points, highlighted by a 94.50-point effort on his reverse 3 ½ in the final round. Despatie won the event with 495.20 points, with Canadian Eric Sehn taking second at 458.45.

Special thanks to USA Diving for contributing this report.

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