OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - Racing at the 2009 USRowing Club National Championships continued Thursday on Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. with heats and semifinals in 22 events. Finals are set in five events, including the women's junior B single sculls, women's junior eight, men's junior A quadruple sculls, women's junior A double sculls, men's intermediate double sculls and women's intermediate quadruple sculls.
USRowing Junior Men's Development Camp made an impressive showing in the men's junior eight event, advancing all four crews to the semifinals in just as many heats. The USR Development Camp A boat cruised to victory in the fourth heat, crossing 5.66 seconds ahead of Canada - CanAmMex. The lineup of coxswain Matthew Clair, Carson Green, Ryan Meder, Zachary Johnson, Paul Popescu, Kyle Peabody, Bailey Willis, Connor Jones and Brent Laurint clocked a 6:18.32 for the win.
"In last 500 meters, we brought the rate down to about 31 [strokes per minute] after breaking open water on Canada," said Clair. "We were not under much pressure after that point."
In the first heat, it was a tight race for second and third place, with three crews finishing within 0.39 seconds of each other. Boston Rowing Club crossed first, clocking a 6:19.98. USRowing Development Camp's D boat squeezed ahead of Southeast Junior Crew A by just 0.04 seconds to take second place in a 6:23.69. Southeast Juniors clocked a 6:23.73 for third, edging out Seattle Area Rowing Association by 0.35 seconds for the final qualifying spot.
Vesper Boat Club clocked the fastest time of the heats in the women's intermediate pair. The duo of Sam Sarff and Erin Sodawasser clocked an 8:22.16 to win the third of four heats, advancing to the semifinals. Wisconsin Women's USRowing Development Camp advanced three boats, winning the first and second heats and taking second in the fourth heat.
Union Boat Club's Will Newell clocked the fastest time in the men's intermediate lightweight single sculls. Racing in the second of six heats, Newell crossed the line over 15 seconds ahead of Canada - CamAmMex's Russell McKean, clocking a 7:47.65 to advance to the semifinals. Newell also advanced to the semifinals in men's intermediate single sculls, winning the sixth and final heat in a 7:53.70. Earlier this morning, Newell qualified for the final in the men's senior lightweight single sculls, finishing second to Detroit Boat Club's George Sleator.
Penn A.C. Rowing Association dominated the competition in the men's intermediate eights, winning two heats and advancing all three boats to the final. Wisconsin B clocked the fastest time of the event, winning the second heat by 1.49 seconds in a 6:10.40. Penn A.C.'s A and B boats won the first and third heats, respectively, while Penn A.C. C finished third in the second heat to advance.
The five-day championship event features over 1,300 athletes representing 82 clubs in 29 states and three countries. Races will be contested in 71 events, featuring junior, intermediate and senior classification rowing.
Racing continues Friday at 9 a.m. with heats and semifinals in events. For complete race results, visit www.racetrak.com.