WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - Four boats are one step away from making the junior national team after winning the first race of the best two-out-of-three finals at the 2005 Junior National Team Trials on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J.
The winners of the men's single sculls, women's single sculls, men's double sculls and women's double sculls will earn the right to represent the United States at the 2005 World Rowing Junior Championships scheduled for early August in Brandenburg, Germany. Much like an NBA Playoff series, the finals are a best two-out-of-three format. The second set of finals will take place Sunday starting at 6:30 a.m., while the third set of finals will be contested on Monday starting at 6:30 a.m., if necessary.
The closest race of the day occurred in the men's double sculls as Crescent Boat Club's John Cerrone and Justin Ochal edged Capital Crew's Peter Carlson and Justin Rediger by 0.24 seconds. The two crews battled each other all the way down the course before Crescent pulled out the victory in the final few strokes. Cerrone and Ochal finished with a time of 6:58.90, while Carlson and Rediger finished in a 6:59.14. Maritime Rowing Club's Nate Kelly and Brendan McEwan finished third to claim the last spot in tomorrow's second final.
In the women's double sculls, GMS Rowing Center's Jacquelyn Burmeister and Victoria Burke easily won the first final. The duo clocked a 7:50.87 to finish 3.86 seconds ahead of Steel City Rowing Club's Meredith Meehan and Katrina Gagnon. Meehan and Gagnon finished in a 7:54.73, while GMS Rowing Center's Christina Laternser and Margaux Howard finished third in a 7:58.80.
Penn Athletic Club's Sean Medcalf won the first final of the men's single sculls by clocking a 7:41.40. Medcalf finished 13.72 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Will Weaver from Fairmount Rowing Association. Bantam Boat Club's John Graves finished third in an 8:02.43.
In the women's single sculls, Potomac Boat Club's Caroline Berson edged Blood Street Sculls' Michelle King by 2.84 seconds. Berson stroked an 8:18.95 to King's 8:21.79.
In addition to the four boats being selected at the trials, the U.S. will send a men's eight, men's four with coxswain, women's eight, women's four and women's pair to the world junior championships. Those boats will be chosen in July by the junior national team head coaches from the athletes participating in the junior national team camps that are currently in progress.