PRINCETON, N.J. - For nine U.S. athletes racing together in their first international competition, a sixth-place finish in the men's eight at 2013 World University Games is quite an achievement, and head coach Matt Lehrer said he is "proud of their effort."
The United States advanced to the grand final in the men's eight on July 8 in Kazan, Russia, and placed sixth overall with a time of 6:09.91.
Home team Russia won gold in 5:47.54, followed by Ukraine, The Netherlands, Belarus and Poland. Norway did not advance to grand final.
A total of 338 rowers from 35 nations raced in the rowing events of the World University Games in 13 boat classes. The USA only had one entry in the men's eight.
The crew consisted of Marist College coxswain Christopher Leonard (White Plains, N.Y.), George Washington University's Kasey Charles Colander (Middlebury, Vt.), University of California, Los Angeles' Jeffrey Latham(Anaheim, Calif.), University of California, Santa Barbara's Luke Wilhelm (Miranda, Calif.), University of Wisconsin's James Letten (Chicago, Ill.), University of Minnesota's Luke Yehlen (Poquoson, Va.), Boston College's Keane Johnson (Los Altos, Calif.), Drexel University's Ian Luetzow (Louisville, Ky.) and University of Pittsburgh's Zachary Petronic (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
According to World Rowing, the Russian crew let no other crews decide their victory. Russia "blasted out of the start" in the grand finals and the finishing order was already set by the 1,000-meter mark.
The men's eight was the final event of the rowing portion of the Games.
Less than two hours after the race concluded, Lehrer tweeted, "6th in the grand final for the World Games USA Men's 8+. Guys raced hard, but just couldn't match the speed in the rest of the field. Proud of their effort!"
The 2013 regatta was the first time since 1993 in which rowing was included in the World University Games. It has only been included four times total since the beginning of the games in 1923. This year's races were held on Lake Kaban in Kazan, Russia.
Seven crews were entered in the men's eight event. The winning crew of two heats advanced to finals, the rest to repechages. The United States finished fourth in the first heat and fourth in the repechage en route to the grand final.
Although international racing was new to all nine crewmembers, coaches Lehrer and Kane Larin trained the men in Boston to prepare them for the Games.
The lineup raced at the USRowing National Championships in West Windsor, N.J., the week before traveling to Russia, in preparation for facing the unknown field in Russia.
"For many of our guys, (National Championships) were the fastest field they've ever raced in, so learning how to execute when it matters most in a highly competitive environment is key," Lehrer said.
According to the World University Games website, athletes stayed in an Athletes Village while in Russia, making them feel more a part of the Olympic-style event. The village also had a 24-hour food hall, which was one of the most talked about features of the experience.
The 12-day long 2013 World University Games began on July 5 and will end on Wednesday, July 17.
For a full listing of the 2013 World University Games results, visit: World University Games.
Click here to view a venue photo gallery, courtesy of FISA Official and Princeton National Rowing Association Executive Director, Kris Grudt: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usrowing/sets/72157634558492019/.