Suzanne Van Fleet earns Bronze Medal in the Women’s 8+ at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships

July 31, 2007

CLEMSON, SC–Clemson’s Suzanne Van Fleet earned a Bronze Medal in the Women’s 8+ at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships.

In the women’s eight, coxswain Katelin Snyder (Winter Park, Fla.), Andrea Sooter (Bellevue, Wash.), Mara Allen (San Francisco, Calif.), Jamie Redman (Spokane, Wash.), Elle Logan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine), Suzanne Van Fleet (West Chester, Pa.), Megan Smith (Templeton, Calif.), Kerry Birk (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Anne Kennedy (Mt. Vision, N.Y.) took bronze. The U.S. pushed up into second place behind Belarus in the last quarter of the race, but couldn’t hold off the charge of the German crew as it inched ahead in the last few strokes to win silver. Belarus won in a 6:15.20, closely followed by Germany in a 6:15.43. The U.S. clocked a 6:17.85, with Canada and Poland trailing.

“The conditions were better at the start and worsened down the course. We fought the whole way through, it was a really good effort,” said Suzanne Van Fleet.

“It is a great honor to represent your country and Suzanne has shown a great deal dedication throughout the process,” said Clemson Head Rowing Coach Richard Ruggieri. “I look forward to reinforcing the lessons learned this summer in training, racing and team development.”