OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - National titles in 37 events were awarded Saturday at the 2009 USRowing Club National Championships on Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. In total, 68 gold medals in junior, intermediate and senior events will be awarded by the conclusion of the five-day regatta.
Community Rowing Inc. went one-two in the final of the women's junior A eight. The lineup of coxswain Caroline Kiritsy, Priscilla Livingston, Hally Sheldon, Catherine Poy, Maja Chelstowska, Katherine Ernst, Allison Armstrong, Elizabeth Lenczowski and Alex Todorvic-Jones dominated in the second 1,000 meters of the race to win gold.
"It was a good race," said six-seat Poy, who raced in the CRI eight at the 2008 USRowing Club Nationals. "Milwaukee was ahead in the beginning, but we made a strong move at the 1,000-meter mark and kept moving. We've been practicing with the B boat all summer."
After finishing second in its heat and winning yesterday's semifinal, CRI's A boat crossed first in a 6:57.30. CRI B took silver in a 7:04.98, with Southeast Junior Crew claiming the bronze medal in a 7:09.71.
"I think we've had a great group of kids," said CRI coach Ethan Curren. "They have had a tremendous attitude all season long. Every time they've raced it's been a little better and a little better. It helps that we had a lot of the girls that rowed together during the regular school season."
Four members of the eight returned to race in the final of the women's junior A pair. The duo of Livingston and Sheldon clocked an 8:06.26 to win its second national title of the day, crossing 8.15 seconds ahead of teammates Ernst and Chelstowska. Ernst and Chelstowska took silver in an 8:14.41, with Canada - CanAmMex's Karen Donaldson and Glenn Hay third in an 8:16.69.
Buffalo, N.Y.-based Westside Rowing Club dominated in Saturday's men's lightweight finals, collecting gold medals in the men's intermediate lightweight four with coxswain, men's senior lightweight pair and the men's intermediate lightweight single sculls. Twenty-three-year-old Justin Farrington swept the preliminary races en route to win the final of the men's intermediate lightweight single by 1.49 seconds. Farrington clocked a 7:36.22 for his second gold medal of the day, with Union Boat Club's Will Newell second in a 7:37.71. New York Athletic Club's Ryan Ujazdowski took bronze in a 7:38.59. Four hours earlier, Farrington stroked Westside's men's intermediate lightweight four with coxswain to a national title.
Potomac Boat Club snatched up three national titles in the women's intermediate quadruple sculls, women's intermediate lightweight double sculls and men's senior lightweight double sculls. The closest finish came in the final of the women's intermediate quad, with the crew of Harlan Trevithick, Stefanie Kozuszek, Jessica Gaul and Casey Robinson crossing just 0.25 seconds ahead of Bloomington USRowing Pre-Elite Camp for the gold medal. Potomac clocked a 7:09.28, with Bloomington second in a 7:09.53. U.S. - CanAmMex took bronze in a 7:19.68.
Thirty-one finals are scheduled for Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. For complete race results, visit www.racetrak.com.