Rowing: Claudia Wurzel, Zuzanna Trzcinska Earn Gold, Silver at U-23 Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
COLUMBUS, Ohio Claudia Wurzel and Zuzanna Trzcinska, members of the Ohio State rowing team, competed for their respective native countries at the 2008 World Rowing Under-23 Championships July 17-20 in Brandenburg, Germany. Wurzel and the Italian Women’s Four (BW4+) captured the gold medal, while Trzcinska and the Polish Women’s Eight (BW8+) earned the event’s silver medal.
The Italians earned an automatic bid to the A Final in the Women’s Four after winning their heat. Wurzel, who rowed in the bow, and the crew outdistanced Australia by more than four seconds. Australia pulled out in the lead at the start of the race and held the advantage up to the 500-meter point. However, the Italians surged ahead at 1,000 meters and held on for the win, finishing in 7:08.33. Australia pulled into the finish line in 7:12.69. Belarus finished third in the heat at 7:13.80 before New Zealand clocked in at 7:19.19 and France followed at 7:20.21.
Wurzel and the Italians edged the Netherlands by a little more than two seconds in the final. The Italian crew clocked in at 7:03.88, while the Netherlands crossed the line in 7:05.72. The Italian lineup fell behind as far as third at the 1,000-meter mark, before taking a permanent lead 1,500 meters into the race. Great Britain rounded out the Top 3, finishing in 7:07.01, while the United States (7:08.71), Australia (7:11.54) and Belarus (7:14.56), were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Trzcinska and the Polish squad fell just three seconds short of the U.S. team in the Women’s Eight in the A Final. With Trzcinska rowing in the four seat, the Polish owned an early lead at 500 meters, but the U.S. made strides within the next 500 meters and eventually took the lead and the win in 6:36.01. However, the Polish crew always remained a close second to Team USA as they were only .82 seconds behind at 1,000 meters. By the 1,500-meter mark, the U.S. was able to create a larger lead, taking a two-second advantage over the Polish team that clocked in at 6:39.72. Belarus finished third in 6:43.35 with Canada following at 6:46.22. Germany was fifth (6:46.46) and Russia was sixth (6:52.26).
It would prove to be dj vu for the Polish team in the A Final as they were edged by the U.S. in preliminary heat action. Trzcinska and the Polish crew owned the lead through the 1,000-meter point, but were unable to hold off the U.S., who crossed at 6:35.98, four seconds ahead of Poland’s time of 6:39.34. Germany executed a third-place performance in the heat, finishing in 6:41.73. Belarus (6:42.76), Canada (6:42.88) and Russia (6:46.25) were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
2008 World Rowing Under-23 Championships
Lake Beetzsee
July 17-20
Brandenburg, Germany
Women’s Four A Final
1. Italy 7:03.88
2. Netherlands 7:05.72
3. Great Britain 7:07.01
4. United States 7:08.71
5. Australia 7:11.54
6. Belarus 7:14.56
Women’s Eight A Final
1. United States 6:36.01
2. Poland 6:39.72
3. Belarus 6:43.35
4. Canada 6:46.22
5. Germany 6:46.46
6. Russia 6:52.26
