(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) HEAVY MEDAL: Gevvie Stone, third from left in back row, celebrates after helping the Princeton University women's open crew to a win in the 2006 NCAA championship race. In late July, Stone enjoyed another raucous celebration after helping the U.S. women's quadruple sculls place first at the 2007 World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Strathclyde, Scotland. It was the second gold medal at the U-23 Worlds for Stone, who helped the U.S. women's eight to victory in the 2006 regatta.

PU Grad Stone Harvests Another Gold Medal in Helping U.S. Boat to Win at U-23 Worlds

Bill Alden

Gevvie Stone had given her all but she didn't know if her ultimate goal had been accomplished.

Competing for the U.S. in the final of the women's quadruple sculls last week in Strathclyde, Scotland at the 2007 World Rowing Under-23 Championships, Stone wasn't sure if her boat had won.

"I couldn't really tell what happened," said Stone, a recent Princeton University graduate and a star for the Tiger women's open crew program. "I didn't really know that we won until I looked up at the board and saw the times. We kept pushing; we never gave up. I was ecstatic when I saw that."

Other Princeton athletes at the regatta included Will England, who helped the U.S. men's eight take fourth and Greg McKallagat, a member of the men's lightweight four that finished fifth in the 'B' final.

Stone's initial confusion at the finish line was justified as less than two seconds separated the top four boats with the U.S. taking first followed by Australia and Great Britain.

In prevailing, the U.S. boat made a breakthrough in the discipline of "sculling," in which a rower uses two oars as opposed to sweeps where each athlete handles one oar.

"It is the first gold for the U.S. in a world competition in sculls in the double or quadruple," said Stone, who was joined on the boat by Princeton teammate Alison Fishman, a rising junior. "I think it shows that we can be good in sculling if we focus on it."

The U.S. boat showed focus from the start in Scotland as it cruised to an impressive win in its opening heat. "We got off slowly, we were down at the 500 meter mark" recalled Stone, who won a gold medal at the 2006 U-23 worlds as a member of the women's eight.

"We found an amazing rhythm in the second 5,000; by the 1,000-meter mark, we were ahead. We were able to move through the other boats. The conditions were great; it was easy to feel good."

The U.S. boat felt pretty good about its chances coming into the final on July 29. "We were confident; we knew we had to have a good race the whole way," said Stone, who helped the PU women's open crew go the distance in 2006 as the Tigers went undefeated and won the NCAA championship race.

"We knew the European boats don't put as much emphasis on the heats and that they hold back for the finals. Our strength is our base speed; we knew from the heat that we could push through some boats. We wanted to push harder at each 250; we wanted to make each 250 better than the last."

The U.S. had to rally again as it was last off the line and stood fourth of the six boats at 1,000 meters.

"In the last 1,000, the conditions worsened," said Stone. "The way the lake is shaped; it is more windy at that point. We were getting whitecaps. We just gave it our all."

The similar style of the rowers on the boat helped it mesh into a champion.

"One of the funny things about the boat is that all of us row the same way as individuals," said Stone. "We're a little slow at the start but we have good base speed. We row like that when we are together."

Stone's eventful ride the last two years has even taken her aback. "There is definitely an element of surprise," said Stone, who plans to keep training with the U.S. program and focusing on sculls.

"I've been fortunate to have good teammates and coaches who know what they are doing."

And now that good fortune has helped Stone earn another gold medal on the world stage.

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