row2k news First 2006 US National Selection Regatta Begins Friday
April 4, 2006 USRowing
The first 2006 National Selection Regatta (NSR) will be held April 7-9 on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. The national selection regattas are one step towards making the 2006 National Team, which will compete at the 2006 FISA World Rowing Championships August 20-27 in Eton, England.
NSR I will include races in six boat classes the men's and women's single sculls, the men's and women's lightweight single sculls, and the men's and women's pair. The winner of the men's and women's open weight single sculls will automatically make the national team without further selection if they meet the time standard during the NSR or at a subsequent event held before July 12. If they do not meet the time standard or do not accept the berth on the team, the boat category will be opened up to all competitors at the 2006 World Championships Team Trials scheduled for July 31-August 5. In the remaining four boat classes, NSR I serves as an opportunity for athletes to test their speed early in the season in preparation for future selection regattas and trials.
The men's single sculls event leads the way in numbers of entries with 40. The field contains several past national team members including Ken Jurkowski, Pat Sullivan, and Jonathan Burns, who all competed at the 2005 World Championships. Olympian Jamie Schroeder, who raced in the men's four in Athens, and Nick Peterson, a two-time sculling Olympian, return to the water this weekend after not competing in 2005.
Twenty-five women are entered in the women's single sculls event including several past national team members. Michelle Guerette, who won a bronze medal in the women's single sculls at last year's world championships, leads a field that includes two other 2005 National Team members, Lia Pernell and Margot Shumway.
The lightweight men's single sculls has 16 entries including three past national team members. Bjorn Larsen, who raced in the lightweight men's double sculls at last year's worlds, is the lone 2005 team member entered in the event.
Twenty-six women are entered in the lightweight women's single sculls event including eight past national team members. Julie Nichols and Renee Hykel, who won the silver medal in the lightweight women's double sculls at last year's world championships, are both entered in NSR I, as are 2005 National Team members Heather Moon, Wendy Campanella, Melissa Rice, and Hannah Moore. Lisa Schlenker, a 2004 Olympian in the lightweight women's double sculls, returns to the water after taking last season off.
Fifteen crews are entered in the men's pair including three from USRowing's Princeton Training Center. Six members of last year's national team are scheduled to compete including Josh Inman, Brett Newlin, Michael Blomquist, Matt Schnobrich, Micah Boyd, and Greg Ruckman.
Two crews are entered in the women's pair. All four women competing in the event Anna Mickelson, Megan Cooke, Anna Goodale, and Lindsay Shoop were members of last year's national team squad.
NSR I racing begins on Friday, May 7, with morning time trials and afternoon heats. Semifinals and select finals will be held on Saturday, with the remaining finals being held on Sunday morning.
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