Finals are set at the 2008 USRowing National Championships at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J., with national titles up for grabs in 10 events.
The first heat of the men's single sculls featured the closest race of the morning with Penn Athletic Club's Christopher DeFelice edging out Vesper Boat Club's Ben Churchill to claim first place and advance directly to tomorrow's final. DeFelice posted a 7:10.78 to finish just 0.44 seconds ahead of Churchill. Churchill returned to win the first afternoon repechage and earn a spot in tomorrow's final. James Dietz II of New York Athletic Club won the second heat of the men's single sculls in a 7.09.26. Minneapolis Rowing Club's Zachary Ellison finished second in a 7:13.25, but came back to easily win the second repechage in a 7:20.70 to advance to the final. Ellison is a member of the team that will compete in the 2008 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.
The first heat of the women's single sculls saw a staggered finish, with Undine Boat Club's Meghan Sarbanis winning in a 7:46.88. Potomac Boat Club's Reilly Dampeer crossed the line nearly nine seconds later to take second. In the second heat of the women's single sculls, Pocock Rowing Center's Ursula James finished several boat lengths ahead in a 7:43.75. New York Athletic Club's Kendell Donoho finished second, posting an 8:05.17. Dampeer and Undine Boat Club's Catherine Reddick won the afternoon repechages to advance.
New York Athletic Club's Margaret Duggan clocked an 8:05.58 to win the first heat of the lightweight women's single sculls. The 2007 National Team member finished eight seconds ahead of Kingston Rowing Club's Katya Herman. In the second heat, Union Boat Club's Catherine Infantino won by a margin of just 0.18 seconds, finishing in an 8.04.43 to beat Vesper Boat Club's Nicole Nelson. Herman and Nelson returned to win the afternoon repechages to advance.
Rowing in the first heat of the lightweight men's single sculls, Matt Bokerman finished in a 7:30.93. Detroit Boat Club's George Sleator took second with a 7:38.74. In the second heat, Undine Boat Club's Greg Kaplan crossed the line in a 7:24.85, less than three seconds ahead of Riverside Boat Club's Andrew Hashway. GMS Rowing Center's Matthew Carey won the first repechage in a 7:28.26, with Hashway winning the second repechage to advance.
Racing concludes Sunday with finals in 10 events. In addition, adaptive events will be contested in four categories, with the winners earning the chance to represent the United States at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Sept. 9-11.