Aug. 30, 2009

POZNAN, Poland - The United States boat in the women's quad picked up a silver medal today at the World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland. Former Villanova student-athlete Megan Walsh rowed bow for the U.S. squad, which had won its preliminary heat and finished just three seconds off the lead in the championship race.

Walsh, along with Stesha Carle, Sarah Trowbridge and Kathleen Bertko had a time of 6:21.54 in Sunday's final race. The team was in fourth place after the first 500 meters but moved into second by the midway point and held that position through to the finish line.

The gold medal was won by Ukraine, which led from start to finish and had a winning time of 6:18.41. The United States and Ukraine raced side by side in lanes three and four, respectively and outdistanced the rest of the field. Germany (6:24.27) claimed the bronze medal and was followed in fourth place by Italy (6:27.97). Great Britain (6:33.42) and Russia (6:34.64) wound up fifth and sixth, respectively.

Another former Wildcat in competition in the finals on Sunday was Meghan Sarbanis, who placed fourth in the championship race of the women's lightweight singles. After winning a repechage race and placing second in a semifinal heat during the week, Sarbanis was just three seconds off of finishing as a medalist her race on Sunday.

Sarbanis led the field at the 1500-meter mark before a charge to the finish by gold medalist Pamela Weisshaupt of Switzerland. Sarbanis had a time of 7:40.72 and was just four seconds off the winning pace of Weisshaupt, who finished in 7:36.23.

Laura Milani (Italy) earned the silver medal in 7:37.18 and Juliane Rasmussen (Denmark) took the bronze in 7:37.42. Evi Geentjen (Belgium) and Michaela Taupe-Traer (Austria) finished fifth and sixth, respectively with times of 7:42.45 and 7:43.83.

Both former Wildcats won U.S. national titles in the same events earlier in the summer at Mercer Lake, N.J. Walsh represented the United States at the Rowing World Cup III event in Lucerne, Switzerland in July.

The Villanova women's rowing program has gained plenty of attention in recent months. In addition to the success of its alumni, the Wildcats were chosen to host this past spring's NCAA Divisions I, II and III Championships on Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J.

The current Wildcat team is tentatively scheduled to open the fall 2009 campaign at the Head of the Ohio Regatta in Pittsburgh during the first weekend of October.