Molly Bruggeman (‘14) and Ellen Gleadow (‘16) have qualified for the finals of the 2019 World Rowing Championships in the United States W4- and the LW1x for Team Canada, respectively. Gleadow’s final race will be Friday, August 30, in Linz Ottensheim, Austria, while Bruggeman and her teammates will race for the title Saturday, August 31.
Gleadow battled Japan’s Chiaki Tomita in the second semifinal of the LW1x until taking the lead in the final 500 meters and claiming first place in 7:36.910.
“I’m pleased with the way my race went and all my races are getting better and better,” said Gleadow. “I know that whether I get out in front or behind I can hit a pace that is fast and challenge everyone to come with me. I’m really excited for the A Final as every opportunity to race is an opportunity to learn.”
Bruggeman and the U.S. W4- placed third in the A/B Semifinal (6:25.800), qualifying the boat for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“We really wanted to improve on our heat,” Bruggeman said. “We feel like we had a lot of unfinished business. We just went out and had a really strong middle thousand and that was our game plan.”
Bruggeman has been a member of the U.S. Senior team since 2016 and recently helped the W4- finish fourth at the 2019 World Rowing Cup I and II. She was also a member of the W4- that finished fourth at the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
In 2014, Bruggeman helped Notre Dame’s W8+ finish ninth at the NCAA Championship.
Gleadow has competed in the LW2x in 2019 for Canada (finishing 13th at World Cup II) and jumped to fourth at World Cup III in the LW1x. She also is a veteran of the World Championships, finishing fourth in the LW4x for Canada in 2017. Gleadow also boasts a second-place finish in the LW1x at the 2018 World Cup I.
