Wadlow, Spaulding finish fifth in sailing

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Gannett News Service

GLYFADA, Greece - Former New Jersey residents Tim Wadlow and Pete Spaulding finished in fifth place overall in the 49er sailing class after the 16th and final race Thursday at the Summer Olympics.

Wadlow, from San Diego, and Spaulding, of Miami, were fourth overall but mathematically eliminated from medal contention going into Thursday's finale, in which they placed 10th.

There were 19 boats in the competition. Wadlow and Spaulding finished first in two races - the ninth and 15th - and third in two others.

Teams from Spain, the Ukraine and Great Britain took the top three places.

Boyhood pals in Fair Haven, N.J., Wadlow and Spaulding were teammates on the Surf Riders swim team. Wadlow, 30, and Spaulding, 28, became reacquainted during their college days in Boston. They began sailing together in the 49er class just four years ago.

Spaulding, a product of the Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club in Oceanport, N.J., said after the 15th race that they should be satisfied with their high finish.

"We sailed an excellent regatta," he said. "You look back and you say, 'If we had done this' or 'If we had done that' we could have been just a little bit better and been in there. On the other side of things, we've come very far, even in the past year."