Canadian crews from Rowing Canada's London Training Centre began racing today at the 2007 USRowing National Championships on Mercer Lake (West Windsor, New Jersey).
The women's quad of Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria, B.C., Krista Guloien of Port Moody, B.C, Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, Man., and Rachelle de Jong of Regina, Sask. won a heat this morning in 06:22:63. They advance to the final on Saturday.
"This is the first time we've raced the quad in this combination," said women's coach Carsten Hassing. "They are still working on parts of their race and I'm pleased to see them take ownership and recognize what they need to work on."
Canada's Under-23 training group eight was second in its heat in 06:29:88. A U.S. boat, racing as Caspersen Training Center, was first in 06:17:80.
The Under-23 women's eight rowing at this regatta is Kat Romatowski (coxswain) of St. Catharines, Ont., Buzzy McCord of Toronto, Ont., Sarah Waterfield of Kingston, Ont. Emelia Colman-Sheperd of Port Moody, B.C., Lauren Hutchins of West Vancouver, B.C., Steph Morrison of Nelson, B.C., Emma Darling of Vancouver, B.C. , Julia Nelson of St. Catharines, and Audra Vair, Ottawa, Ont.
Canada's women's eight was also second in its heat (06:24:19) against a top U.S. boat that finished in 6:11:22. The Canadians will race in a rep tomorrow.
The women's eight members are coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie of London, Ont., Heather Mandoli of Kelowna, B.C., Ashley Brzozowicz of Toronto, Ont., Kaylan Vander Schilden of Victoria, B.C., Sabrina Kolker of West Vancouver, B.C., Romina Stefancic of Victoria, B.C., Katie Reynolds of St. John, N.B., Sandra Kisil of Ancaster, Ont. and Sarah Bonikowsky of Orangeville, Ont.
"I'm looking forward to the rep and the final," said coach Hassing. "Many of the women are doubling up (in the pairs tomorrow), so we didn't want to push them too hard today."
In the women's single event, Courtney MacIntosh of St. John's, Nfld. and Kara Farquharson of Mississuaga, Ont. finished fourth and sixth respectively in a time trial this morning. The seventh- place finisher in the time trial was also a Canadian, Michelle Prince, representing Ridley Graduate Boat Club. They advance to the heats, along with Julie Shearer of the Ottawa Rowing Club, who is also in the women's singles races tomorrow.
The 136th running of the event - today through Saturday - features many athletes who are in training for the 2007 World Championships in Munich, Germany, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The field includes 11 U.S. Olympic medalists, more than 30 world championships medalists and more than 75 athletes with U.S. National Team experience.