Burke wins 1-meter title at US nationals

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Amanda Burke narrowly won her first national title on 1-meter springboard at the U.S. diving championships.

Burke totaled 270.10 points Thursday night at UCLA, edging Erin Mertz, who had 270.00. Samantha Pickens was third at 264.05.

Kassidy Cook was fourth at 263.65 after botching her first dive in the non-Olympic event. Cook finished seventh with partner Christina Loukas in 3-meter synchronized at the recent world championships in China.

Burke, a 24-year-old who trains in Indianapolis, is aiming to make next year’s London Olympics.

She made three NCAA championships appearances while diving at Rider, where she first began taking diving seriously. Burke was diving in 2001 when she broke her femur in a freak accident on the board. She hadn’t launched an inward 112 dive when one leg buckled and the knee on her other leg hit the board. The accident cost her nine months out of the sport.