Princeton rowers barely miss podium at Rio Games

Two Princeton athletes, Lauren Wilkinson ’11 and Glenn Ochal ’08, just missed medaling in their respective events earlier today. Wilkinson and the Canadian women’s coxed eights team finished fifth in their medal race, while Ochal and seven other members of Team USA finished fourth in the finals of the men’s coxed eights.

Wilkinson and Team Canada got off to a strong start in the women’s race, but came up just short against a powerhouse U.S. team. The Americans completed the 2,000-meter course in 6:01.49, almost a full five seconds ahead of Wilkinson and company’s 6:06.04. The Canadians ultimately finished in fifth place.

In the men’s coxed eights, Ochal and Team USA also came up just short of the podium. The Americans managed a time of 5:34.23, but finished an agonizing few seconds behind the third-place Netherlands team. Great Britain ultimately won the event, flying through the course in 5:29.63.

At Princeton,Wilkinsonwas a leading member of the Tigers’ No. 1 Eight NCAA Championship team in 2011, while Ochal also starred on the men’s heavyweight squad. Ochal had previously claimed a bronze medal in the coxless four event at the 2012 London Games.