Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Princeton Rowing Earns Four Medals, Multiple Finals At U23 World Champs
July 25, 2011 | Heavyweight Rowing, Women's Rowing - Open, Men's Rowing - Lightweight
Lauren Wilkinson '11 completed her magical year of rowing with a gold for the Canadian U23 W8+, while a trio of her peers joined her on the medal stand in Amsterdam for the recently completed U23 World Championships.
Wilkinson, a 2011 Von Kienbusch recipient as the top female senior student-athlete at Princeton, led Canada to a win by nearly three seconds in the women's 8+ final. Canada finished in 6:03.23, while no other boat finished in under 6:06. Winning is nothing new to Wilkinson; she led Princeton to victories in both the EAWRC and NCAA grand finals, and she has been instrumental in leading the Tigers to 27 consecutive regular season wins.
Canada led in each of the final three splits, but it was the U.S. that held the advantage after 500 meters. The Red, White and Blue finished with a bronze medal, and a pair of Wilkinson's teammates were part of that charge. Both Kelly Pierce '12 and Heidi Robbins '13 were members of the EAWRC and NCAA championship boat, and both will return to Princeton with U23 World Championship bronze medals.
Men's heavyweight standout Mike Evans '13 will also bring bronze back to Princeton, as he helped the British 8+ to a third-place finish. While the U.S. and the Czech Republic held the top two spots throughout the race, Great Britain spent more than 1500 meters behind Germany for the final spot on the medal stand. A strong final sprint helped Evans and his teammates top Germany by more than 1.5 seconds for third.
Three other Tigers reached their respective grand finals, including heavyweight captain elect Ian Silveira '12, who helped the U.S. men's 4x to a fourth-place finish. Heavyweight graduate Blake Parsons '11 also finished fourth with the Canadian 4-, while Gabby Cole '13 placed fifth for the U.S. in the women's 4-.
"It's great to see Mike, Ian and Blake have such strong results at the U23's and to see our Princeton rowers racing well against the best rowers from around the world," heavyweight head coach Greg Hughes said.
Heavyweight Tim Masters '14 helped the Australian men's 8+ win the 'B' final, while Nicole Bielawski '13 finished third in the 'B' final for the U.S. in the women's 2x.
Men's lightweights Steve Cutler '12 and Tyler Nase '13 were in the same U.S. boat and finished third in the lightweight 4- 'B' final.