Melbourne University Sport -

McNamara wins second World Championship crown
29/7/2008; Rod Warnecke

Commerce/Science student Alice McNamara won her second successive World Championship crown in Austria over the weekend. Rowing in the women’s lightweight quad scull, McNamara and team mates Ingrid Fenger, Bronwen Watson and Miranda Bennett were too strong in the 2000m race, winning by some three seconds from Poland and the USA.

After winning their heat earlier in the regatta, the crew automatically qualified for the final. But the final didn’t appear to go exactly to plan with the crew back in the field after the first 500 metres. With Poland, the USA and Great Britain all ahead of them, the Australian crew lifted their rate over the middle 1000 metres to methodically pick off their rivals. Passing the USA and then Great Britain, the girls set their attention on the Poles who had a one and half second lead at the half-way mark of the race. Holding their form through to the 1500 metre mark, the crew surged past Poland in the final 500 metres to win the gold medal in a time of 6.36.41 minutes.

McNamara along with Watson and Bennett are all now dual World Champions, having won the 2007 World Championship title in the lightweight quad scull in Germany. Ingrid Fenner replaced Tara Kelly in the boat for this year’s World Championship.

The strength of lightweight women’s rowing in Australia is perhaps at an all-time high. The Australian women’s double scull pairing of Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston are the reigning World Champions and will represent Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – and the women’s lightweight quad scull is unfortunately not an Olympic event.

While she is the lightweight reserve for Beijing, McNamara will not be officially accredited as part of Australia’s Olympic contingent. But at just 22 years of age, Alice can certainly look forward to London 2012 and an Olympic Games or two beyond that. And regardless of what the future holds, she can also proudly carry the title of dual World Champion.

- END -
For further information, contact:
Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager
P: +613 8344 8891
Fax: +613 8344 5583
Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au


Home Membership Facilities Group Fitness Health Services Clubs Sport and Recreation Ski Lodge About Us Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	McNamara wins second World Championship crown 29/7/2008; Rod Warnecke Commerce/Science student Alice McNamara won her second successive World Championship crown in Austria over the weekend. Rowing in the women’s lightweight quad scull, McNamara and team mates Ingrid Fenger, Bronwen Watson and Miranda Bennett were too strong in the 2000m race, winning by some three seconds from Poland and the USA. After winning their heat earlier in the regatta, the crew automatically qualified for the final. But the final didn’t appear to go exactly to plan with the crew back in the field after the first 500 metres. With Poland, the USA and Great Britain all ahead of them, the Australian crew lifted their rate over the middle 1000 metres to methodically pick off their rivals. Passing the USA and then Great Britain, the girls set their attention on the Poles who had a one and half second lead at the half-way mark of the race. Holding their form through to the 1500 metre mark, the crew surged past Poland in the final 500 metres to win the gold medal in a time of 6.36.41 minutes. McNamara along with Watson and Bennett are all now dual World Champions, having won the 2007 World Championship title in the lightweight quad scull in Germany. Ingrid Fenner replaced Tara Kelly in the boat for this year’s World Championship. The strength of lightweight women’s rowing in Australia is perhaps at an all-time high. The Australian women’s double scull pairing of Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston are the reigning World Champions and will represent Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – and the women’s lightweight quad scull is unfortunately not an Olympic event. While she is the lightweight reserve for Beijing, McNamara will not be officially accredited as part of Australia’s Olympic contingent. But at just 22 years of age, Alice can certainly look forward to London 2012 and an Olympic Games or two beyond that. And regardless of what the future holds, she can also proudly carry the title of dual World Champion. - END - For further information, contact: Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager P: +613 8344 8891 Fax: +613 8344 5583 Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au