Four Crews Earn Junior National Team Berths at Junior Trials

Four crews earned berths on the junior national team on Friday at the 2009 Junior World Championships Trials on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. The selected crews earned the right to represent the United States at the 2009 FISA World Rowing Junior Championships August 5-8 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France.

In the women's single sculls, V Sculls' Nicole Bielawski easily swept the best two-out-of-three finals. In Friday morning's first race, Bielawski rowed to a 22-second victory over Baltimore Rowing Club's Agne Pakalniskyte. Bielawski clocked an 8:16.860, while Pakalniskyte finished in an 8:38.893. In Friday afternoon's second final, Bielawski clocked an 8:11.102, with Pakalniskyte crossing in an 8:44.522.

In the women's double sculls, GMS Rowing Center's Kim Hopewell and Samantha Warren also swept the best two-out-of-three finals. In the first race, the duo defeated teammates Alix Chrumka and Margy Bertasi by more than five seconds, finishing with a time of 7:21.613. Chrumka and Bertasi clocked a 7:26.945. GMS Rowing Center's Katie Burke and Abby Knight finished third. In the second final, Hopewell and Warren crossed the line in a 7:24.056. Chrumka and Bertasi again finished second, this time in a 7:30.471. Following the second final, the top two boats both declined the double sculls berth, choosing to concentrate on making the team in the women's quadruple sculls. Therefore, Burke and Knight were named to the junior national team in the double.

In the men's single sculls, Steel City Rowing Club's Matt Maddamma rowed uncontested to earn a spot on the junior national team. Maddamma clocked a 7:36.78 in his final. Likewise, West Side Rowing Club raced uncontested to win the men's four. The crew of Alan Amico, Ronald Rubino, Sean Johnston and Constantinos Gioukelas finished with a time of 6:32.986.

For complete results, please visit www.powerhousetiming.com.

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