2009 USRowing National Championships Underway

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - More than 200 boats are competing for national titles in 21 boat classes at the 2009 USRowing National Championships on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.

The 138th running of the regatta features Olympic medalists, world champions and many of the nation's top athletes who are in training for the 2009 FISA World Rowing Championships. Today's heat winners advanced directly to Saturday's final, while the remaining crews will race in repechages, or second-chance races, on Friday.

USRowing Training Center's Brett Sickler recorded the fastest time in the second of two heats of the women's single sculls. Sickler, who won the first USRowing National Selection Regatta in April, crossed first in a 7:47.802. USTC's Megan Kalmoe finished second in a 7:54.933, followed by London Training Center's Lindsay Forget in an 8:04.837. After recording the fastest time in the morning time trials, USTC's Ellen Tomek came back to win the first heat in a 7:51.369. Potomac Boat Club's Mae Joyce Gay crossed second in a 7:57.092, followed by Penn A.C. Rowing Association's Ann Holmes in an 8:06.434 for third.

USTC's women's eight of coxswain Katie Bitz, Susan Francia, Caroline Lind, Kady Glessner, Anna Goodale, Mara Allen, Esther Lofgren, Lindsay Shoop and Erin Cafaro recorded the fastest time in the first of two heats to advance to the final. The USTC crew, with five members of the 2008 Olympic gold-medal women's eight, clocked a 6:21.980 to finish nearly 13 seconds ahead of USTC's second boat. London Training Center won the second heat in a 6:41.717, followed by Vesper Boat Club in a 6:52.450.

LTC dominated both heats of the women's four. In the first heat, LTC pulled ahead in the first 1,000 meters to gain a five-second lead over Penn A.C. Rowing Association. LTC widened the gap in the final stretch to win by over 15 seconds, clocking a 7:02.539. Penn A.C. crossed second in a 7:17.742, with Vesper third in a 7:32.999. In the second heat, LTC crossed 5.02 seconds ahead of USRowing Training Center in a 6:47.368. USTC clocked a 6:52.385, with New York Athletic Club finishing in a 7:08.025.

In the lightweight women's double sculls, the LTC duo of Katya Herman and Kristin Jeffery recorded the fastest time racing in the second of two heats. Herman and Jeffery clocked a 7:11.564 for the win. USTC's Michelle Trannel and Kristen Hedstrom held a 0.46-second lead at the halfway point but crossed the line second in a 7:13.297. USTC's Abby Broughton and Lindsey Hochman won the first heat in a 7:15.177. LTC crossed second in a 7:20.265, followed by Vesper in third with a 7:26.429.

The USTC duo of Brett Newlin and Jake Cornelius clocked the fastest time in the first of two heats of the men's pair, crossing just over 10 seconds ahead of USTC teammates Steve Coppola and Cameron Winklevoss. Newlin and Cornelius won in a 6:47.190 to advance to the final. Coppola and Winklevoss crossed second in a 6:57.355, followed by Penn A.C. in a 7:02.073. USTC's Charlie Cole and David Banks won the second heat in a 6:50.275 to advance to the final. Penn A.C. finished second in a 7:04.774, followed by Ottawa Rowing Club in a 7:09.876 for third.

In the men's double sculls, heat winners GMS and USTC advanced to the final. GMS Rowing Center's Steve Whelpley and Michael Sivigny crossed 5.25 seconds ahead of Vesper in a 6:28.130 to win the second heat. Vesper finished second in a 6:34.384, followed by Bantam Boat Club in a 6:38.292. USTC's Andy Quinn and Shane Madden won the second heat in a 6:37.925, with Potomac Boat Club second in a 6:49.054.

Undine Barge Club's Meghan Sarbanis recorded the fastest time of the afternoon in the first of two heats of the lightweight women's double sculls. Sarbanis crossed 15.17 seconds ahead of GMS Rowing Center's Victoria Burke to win in a 7:50.681 and advance to the final. Burke crossed second in an 8:05.851, followed by Margaret Duggan of New York Athletic Club in an 8:18.432. NYAC's Sarah Bates-Johnson won the second heat in an 8:08.481 to advance to the final. Carnegie Lake Rowing Association's Veronique Oomen crossed second in an 8:28.872, followed by Jennifer Kirst of GMS in an 8:46.612.

Racing continues Friday at 9 a.m. with additional heats and repechages. Finals will be held Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. For complete results, visit www.powerhousetiming.com.

In addition, Captured Speed, Inc., in conjunction with USRowing and the United States Olympic Committee, will produce an internet highlight show of the regatta. The 45-minute show will be broadcast on the United States Olympic Committee's Web site at http://rowing.teamusa.org/video. The video will be available during the second week of July.

Mercer Lake is no stranger to elite-level events as it has hosted numerous U.S. national selection regattas, world championship trials and Olympic trials, as well as the 2006 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, 2006 FISA World Masters Regatta and the Princeton stop of the 2001 FISA World Cup circuit.

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing's Official Suppliers are Hudson Boat Works and Boathouse Sports; its Official Patron is Concept2; its Official Electronics Outfitter is Nielsen Kellerman; its Official Timer is Powerhouse Timing; and its Preferred Printer is Sport Graphics Printing. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation.

-30-