Guerette rows into Olympics

M. GUERETTE Harvard grad

Michelle Guerette, the two-time world bronze medalist in the single sculls, easily clinched a spot on her second US Olympic rowing team yesterday morning, sweeping the best-of-three finals at the small-boat trials on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. Also making the team were Massachusetts natives Elliot Hovey of Manchester and Wes Piermarini of West Brookfield in the men's double, Josh Inman and Matt Schnobrich in the men's pair, and Anna (Mickelson) Cummins and Portia McGee in the women's pair.

Guerette, who rowed in the quad that finished fifth at the Athens Games four years ago, defeated Meghan Sarbanis of Hampstead, N.H., by more than 10 seconds, roughly the same margin of her victory Wednesday. The Harvard graduate, who trains in Cambridge, is favored to win the first Olympic sculling medal by an American woman since Concord's Anne Marden in 1988.

Hovey and Piermarini defeated brothers Thomas and Peter Graves for the second straight day by 2 1/2 seconds to earn their first trip to the Games. "I was hoping for this but sure didn't expect it," said Piermarini.

Inman and Schnobrich, also Olympic rookies, took two straight from Harvard grads Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss of Greenwich, Conn., winning the finale by just under three seconds. "It's something you dream about as a kid that you never think will happen to you," said Schnobrich.

Cummins, who won a silver medal in the eight in 2004, partnered with first-timer McGee to sweep campmates Caroline Lind and Elle Logan of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, winning the second race by more than three seconds.