SLIPPERY ROCK — The difference between first and third place might have been a split second or less.

Brielle Jordan, 12, of Slippery Rock, doesn't mind being on the wrong side of that split second.

Brielle placed third in the 13-14 black belt girls division recently at the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) World Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

“I'm very happy with how I did and with where I finished,” Brielle said. “All of those girls out there … they were good. Losing the way I did, it was a tough pill to swallow.”

There were 20 competitors in her division. Brielle qualified for the sparring category at the ATA world championship by winning the Northeast Regional in Lancaster, Pa.

Brielle faced an opponent from the west coast in the semifinal, the winner advancing to the championship match. She trailed in the match 4-0 before rallying to force overtime.

Two strikes to the chest were good for one point each. The tying points came on a spinning kick to the head just before time expired.

In overtime, the first competitor to score wins. Brielle landed a punch to the stomach, but her opponent's punch made contact with Brielle's chest less than a second before.

“She was awarded the point,” Brielle said. “Then the girl who beat me went on to win the whole thing. I lost to the world champion in overtime. I'm perfectly fine with that.”

Now in her fourth year of taekwondo, Brielle attends Weber's ATA Martial Arts Academy in Grove City every day, spending up to two hours per session.

She's not always taking lessons there. She's giving them at times.

“I like teaching the younger kids and sometimes I work with adults who are just starting out,” Brielle said. “I love this sport. It's fun for me. I've met a lot of friends and it gives me a lot of adrenaline.”

Taekwondo is not her only interest. Brielle enjoys soccer, skateboarding and playing the piano as well.

“I'm proud of her and happy she's done so well because she works so hard at this,” said Kirsten Schrecongost, Brielle's mother.

Each morning during the summer, Brielle gets up at 6:30 a.m. and runs three miles. She lifts weights early in the day as well.

“What 12-year-old girl gets up at 6 in the morning every day in the summer and does that?,” Schrecongost asked.

“I'm running three miles in under 30 minutes,” Brielle said proudly.

Brielle is a second-degree black belt. She qualified for the ATA World Championships a year ago, but was not a black belt at that time. Only black belts are permitted to compete at worlds.

Schrecongost believes taekwondo has affected Brielle in a positive way.

“I couldn't ask for a better daughter,” she said. “She pushes everybody to be a better person. She does great in school. When somebody needs something, she's the first one to help them.

“Brielle always goes above and beyond. She's very respectful.”

Finishing third did one thing for Brielle.

It's made her that much more hungry to finish first.

“My goal is to get back there next year and win it,” she said of the world championships. “I'm working on better flexibility and I'm working on my sparring.

“I did good in the end. But I can do better.”