Winning swimming meets is not new to Jen Eberwein.
The junior All-American is the defending Big Ten champion in the 50-yard freestyle event. She was a part of Michigan's 200 and 400 free relay teams that won Big Ten Championships six months ago. As a freshman, she was a four-time Big Ten champion.
But on Aug. 28, Eberwein set a new personal standard by winning the gold medal in the 40-yard free relay at the World University Games in Sicily, Italy.
"Next to the Olympics and the World Championships, the World University Games are the most prestigious games you can compete in," Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson said.
"There's an Olympic-type atmosphere there."
Eberwein, one of nine Michigan athletes representing their respective countries at the Games, was the only Wolverine to claim a gold medal.
Swimming the opening leg of the relay, Eberwein set the pace for fellow Americans Katie Taylor (Auburn), Keiko Price (UCLA) and Liesl Kolbisen (Arizona). The foursome's time of 3:47.80 soundly beat the home-favorite Italian team by 3.57 seconds.
Eberwein finished eighth in her only other event, the 100 free.
"Jen is a great swimmer," Richardson said. "Any time you can win a medal in international competition, it's significant."
A swimmer also delivered the Wolverines' only other medal of the Games. Scott Werner, a freshman who has yet to swim in a collegiate meet, earned a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke.
"Werner is going to make a big-time contribution at the NCAA level immediately," Michigan men's swimming coach Jon Urbanchek said. "He's a good worker, a great trainer and has international experience."
Werner is one of two incoming freshmen on the men's team with international experience.
Both he and Chris Thomson swam for the U.S. Junior National Team.
The World University Games are significant because they give the athletes international exposure, and are often used as a springboard to Olympic or world championship competition.
"Any time you get to represent your country, it's an honor," Richardson said.
Several recent Michigan graduates also made an impact on the games. Anne Kampfe, a '97 graduate and former member of Michigan's women's swimming team, finished fifth in the 400 Individual Medley and seventh in the 200 IM.
Kampfe was selected as a co-captain of the women's U.S. team at the Games.
Chris Rumley, a fifth-year senior who has exhausted his eligibility, finished second in the 400 free preliminary heats but slipped to fifth in the finals and failed to win a medal. Rumley captained the U.S. men's squad.
Ryan Papa was the busiest Wolverine, swimming in six events during the six-day competition. His highest finish was 12th in the 200 back.
Urbanchek cited poor training conditions as the reason for Papa's lackluster performance.
Papa trained for the last month in his native Phillippines, where the training facilities are not up to the standards of the state-of-the-art Canham Natatorium.
Urbancheck also said that Papa might have overstrained himself by swimming in so many events.
While swimmers made up the bulk of Michigan's delegation to the Games, four other Wolverines made the journey across the Atlantic.
John Mortimer, a member of the Michigan track team and representing the United States, finished ninth in the 3,000 steeplechase.
"Mortimer was training for cross country (not steeplechase), and he just wasn't sharp or peaked at all," Michigan cross country coach Ron Warhurst said. "He just ran great, considering he was training for a different event. It's a great way to start the cross country season, and an incredible step up for his career as a runner."
Nicole Forrester competed in the high jump for Canada, and Tania Longe represented Norway in the long jump.
Sophomore gymnast Jose "LaLo" Haro competed in the all-around, representing Mexico.
The United States topped the medal count with 27.
Margaret Myers/Daily
Michigan runner John Mortimer represented the United States at the World University Games, finishing ninth in the 3,000 steeplechase.