LONG BEACH, Calif. - Day three of racing at the 2008 USRowing Masters National Championships in Long Beach, Calif. resulted in close finishes, making it possible for any of several crews to take home this year's point trophy at the conclusion of the event tomorrow.
In the women's A four with coxswain, River City Rowing Club took home the gold medal. The crew of coxswain Amanda Garrison, Britany Lindl, Brooke Burgess, Janell Bogue and Karen Swan clocked a 3:57.19 for the win. Lake Merritt Rowing Club followed in a 4:00.09 for second place, with Austin Rowing Club third in a 4:00.80.
Minneapolis Rowing Club repeated as champions in the women's club C eight with five returning members from last year's crew. After finishing 1.64 seconds behind Marin Rowing Association in the morning heat, coxswain Rachel Maiden, Amy Cichanowski, Marilyn Franzen, Jennifer Lacey, Rochelle Winn, Patricia Koehler, Jill Cooper, Kristina Lund and Susan Weeks won gold in a 3:27.96. Marin finished second in a 3:31.36, with Boulder Community Rowing third in a 3:38.84.
One of the tightest finishes of the day resulted in a gold medal for San Diego Rowing Club's Antonio Gisbert in the lightweight men's A single sculls. Gisbert crossed in a 3:47.28, just 0.05 seconds ahead of Lincoln Park Boat Club's Eric Lev. Los Gatos Rowing Club's Rick Devine finished third in a 3:52.27, with Vancouver Rowing Club's Angus Dinsdale fourth in a 4:01.03.
In the men's E eight, coxswain Kent Mitchell steered his namesake entry to a gold medal. The Kent Mitchell Rowing Club clocked a 3:13.28, with Long Beach Rowing Association following in a close second with a time of 3:13.61. Marin Rowing Association finished in third with a 3:21.70.
Later in the afternoon, the Kent Mitchell men's B eight crew of coxswain Hannah Shaw, Dave Brown, Mike Still, Chris Swann, Jack Nunn, Ed Ives, Greg Springer, Kieran Clifford and James Baker clocked the quickest time of the day for a gold medal with a time of 2:59.45. Marin Rowing Association crossed second just 0.15 seconds later in a 2:59.60. Potomac Boat Club finished in third place with a time of 3:01.30.
Austin Rowing Club's women's B quadruple sculls crew of Marita Stollenwerk, Jessica Hymowitz, Jennifer De Haas and Lee Austin won gold, after finishing second in the first of two morning heats. Austin clocked a 3:42.65 to finish just one second ahead of Long Beach Rowing Association's Sherri Kline, Liz Trond, Helen Frykman and Suzi Walter. Long Beach crossed in a 3:43.65, with San Diego Rowing Club third in a 3:45.38.
Hosted by USRowing and the Long Beach Rowing Association, the four-day event will feature more than 1,200 masters competitors from 83 clubs. Masters rowers ages 21 to 83 will race for national titles in 199 events. Located near Alamitos Bay, Marine Stadium is home to the Long Beach Rowing Association and was the site of the 1932 Olympic Games. In recent years, Marine Stadium has hosted a variety of rowing events, including the annual Long Beach Invitational for junior crews and the USRowing Southwest Masters Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
Racing concludes Sunday at with morning heats and afternoon finals. For complete schedule and race results, visit www.racetrak.com.