Zach Ellison has the next few weeks to brush up on his German.
The Duluthian won a three-rower race in the single sculls Thursday morning on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., to earn a berth in the U-23 World Championships next month in Brandenburg, Germany.
Ellison, who rows out of the Minneapolis Rowing Club, was timed in 7 minutes, 13.46 seconds into a slight headwind to win the 2,000-meter race by 3.09 seconds over Peter Van Vliet of Old Saybrook, Conn.
"I'm still kind of in shock, I guess. After the race, I just sat there in my boat," the 2006 Duluth East graduate said.
Ellison said Mark Borgerson of Malvern, Pa., took the early lead but petered out by the 750-meter mark, leaving it a two-man race. Ellison said he held a one-second advantage over Van Vliet by the halfway stage, then picked up the pace over the final half of the race.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I didn't have to go all out to beat him, which was a good sign," Ellison said.
Ellison, 21, will be back in his scull tonight to compete in the National Championships at Mercer Lake. He hopes to finish among the top 12 and qualify for Sunday's final.
After that, it'll be time to learn a few key German phrases.
