Wolverine Alums Shine at World Championships
9/16/2018 2:13:00 PM | Rowing
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PLOVDIV, Bulgaria -- The University of Michigan rowing program was represented by two alumnae in Bulgaria at the World Rowing Championships this summer, and both athletes are returning to the United States as newly-minted medalists.
Volunteer assistant coach Felice Mueller (2010-12) was part of the gold medal-winning eight boat which raced on Wednesday (Sept. 12) with heats. Mueller and company won the race handily, in 5:56.680 ahead of the Netherlands (+2.83), China and Canada.
That win earned them a place in Sunday's (Sept. 16) A Final, during which the American women captured gold once again. The crew trailed off the line and sat second at the 500-meter mark before building rhythm in the second quarter of the race. By the third 500-meters, the U.S. had gained the lead and continued to push ahead of Australia and the Netherlands. Pushes from the Dutch and Canadians forced the U.S. to increase its margin over the final sprint, and it crossed the line 2.08 seconds ahead of Team Canada, with the Australians in bronze medal position.
One of three medals captured by American boats on Sunday, Mueller and the eight boat's win marked the 10th overall medal for the U.S. at these World Championships. It also tied France, Italy and Germany for the most gold medals in the competition (three) and gave the American women their 12th win in the last 13 years in this event.
This gold-medal finish gives Mueller 11 international medals in her career, including an astounding seven gold medals.Ellen Tomek (2003-06) has continued racing in women's double sculls (2x) with longtime partner Meghan O'Leary and the duo found themselves on the medal stand once again. After a silver medal in 2017, they accomplished bronze this fall.
Tomek and O'Leary placed second in their heats on Monday (Sept. 10), timing 6:55.110 behind Great Britain (6:53.280). That time qualified their boat for the A Semifinal, where they picked up a big win over New Zealand to advance to the A Final, coming in by 0.320 seconds ahead of their Kiwi competitors in 6:51.280.
After that win, the duo's confidence was on the rise, but New Zealand got its revenge in the final, taking silver. The U.S. still found the medal stand in 6:47.750, about 3.60 seconds behind the gold medal-winning Lithuanian boat.
It was second straight medal for Tomek and O'Leary at the World Rowing Championships and marked the seventh international medal in Tomek's career.
