WEST WINDSOR, N.J.—Michelle Guerette is heading back to the Olympics. Three other crews also won their finals races in the team trials Thursday at Lake Mercer and are pointed toward the Beijing Games.
Guerette returns to the Olympics as a single sculler four years after she placed fifth in Athens as part of the quadruple sculls. She’s since become the top U.S. women’s single sculler and dominated the field in the best-of-three format, winning Thursday’s final in 7 minutes, 39.837 seconds—10 seconds ahead of second place.
Guerette and six other rowers were nominated to the U.S Olympic team. The rest of the Olympic rowing team will be named later this month.
All the winners swept their races this week, eliminating the need for a third day of finals Friday.
“It was a little stressful,” Guerette said. “You always try to get everything done as soon as possible.”
Anna Cummins and Portia McGee won the women’s pair in 7:12.458. Cummins is a two-time Olympian, having won silver in the eight at the 2004 Olympic Games. The 28-year-old Cummins, who got married at the end of last year, said she might retire at the end of the Games.
Elliot Hovey and Wes Piermarini won the men’s double sculls in 6:27.348. Josh Inman and Matt Schnobrich won the men’s pair in 6:38.104.
