Aug. 11, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA...Former George Mason University rower Melissa Rice won a bronze medal Friday in lightweight women's single sculls at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic.

Rice, the first Patriot rower to represent the U.S. at an international competition, clocked an 8:13.64 and finished 3.27 seconds behind Canada's Gen Meredith, who claimed the silver medal. Cuba's Ismaray Marrero won the gold medal in a time of 8:07.33. Rice sat in second place at the 500-meter mark and battled Meredith for the remaining 1,500 meters.

A native of Virginia Beach, VA, and a 1996 graduate of Princess Anne High School, Rice joined Katie Stephens as the first four-year members of the Patriot rowing program, which was elevated to varsity status in 1997-98.

Rice was a member of Mason's Varsity Four team which placed first at the Occoquan Chase, second at the Occoquan Sprints and third at the Knecht Cup during her senior year, and she helped the Varsity Eight squad to victory at the Head of the Occoquan event and to third-place finishes at the Occoquan Chase and Occoquan Sprints. In addition, she was a co-captain as a senior, the team representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and a peer advisor, helping to teach the University 100 class required for incoming freshman student-athletes. She graduated in 2001 with a degree in health, fitness and recreation resources.