WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - Three crews have been named to the 2010 Adaptive World Championship Team with the conclusion of trials Friday at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. Held in conjunction with the 2010 National Selection Regatta #3, the adaptive men's and women's single sculls crews earned the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro, New Zealand.
Rowing uncontested in the final of the adaptive men's single sculls, Long Beach Rowing Association's Ron Harvey (Long Beach, Calif.) posted a time of 5:18.460. A seven-time national team member, Harvey finished fifth in the first-ever Paralympic Games for rowing in Beijing.
"It's always an honor [to represent the U.S.] I'm excited to go to New Zealand, and I think it's going to be a great event that's widely attended," said Harvey. "The competition is getting better and better. My time was decent today, so that's encouraging."
In the adaptive women's single sculls, Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled's Laura Schwanger (Harrisburg, Pa.) completed the course in 6:25.210. Schwanger, a three-time national team member, won a bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games. She is a four-time Paralympian, having competed at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Paralympics in track and field, winning four gold medals in 1988, three silver medals and a bronze medal in 1992 and three silver medals in 1996.
In addition, the adaptive mixed four with coxswain crew has been selected. Coxswain Jenny Sichel (Clifton, N.J.), Eric McDaniel (Weeki Wachee, Fla.), Emma Preuschl (Indianapolis, Ind.), Eleni Englert (Vista, Calif.) and Andrew Johnson (Riverside, Conn.) will represent the United States in New Zealand. McDaniel, Preuschl and Johnson were members of last year's world championship crew that finished eighth, while Preuschl won silver in the event at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.