I realize its sort "been there, done that" these days. But props to the Wisco Lights performance at Eastern Sprints last weekend, winning: a) 5th straight VL8 title b) 2nd straight 2VL8 title c) 3rd straight team points trophy. The only thing missing from the total sweep they had last year was the VL4 event, but when you split your NL8 into 2 fours to race against a Princeton team that didn't have the depth to field a 2VL8 2nd place is a great result.
I don't find Koven's feat that impressive - many other rowers have come out of longer retirements at older ages and smashed records, won golds and wowed us all. He only got third place.
i'm not comparing them to myself, i'm comparing them to other great rowers (my coach could name them off, but i know they exist) that came back after much longer retirements, at older ages and shattered heavyweight erg record and won! and sure, it would be tough to do well at the NSR, but i don't think koven was out of shape or had forgotten how to row properly.
and if i was older perhaps, i would compete at the NSR - in fact I hope to be there in three years or so
Nonetheless, Koven/Walsh should move up in the voting. amazing performance. he has 3 kids by the way. and it's not as if the other guys weren't training more for this than Koven.
"untrained" and "normal" don't describe Jamie Koven. If you had kept up with the row2k news articles you would have seen one about him training seriously with the Brown alumni under the guidance of Coach Kaehler. You would also see that he has never stopped rowing since graduating. You would also understand that being one of the greatest "ergers" ever; Jamie at 75% is most likely stronger than most rowers at 100%. So all that being said, one row and placing third is impressive but please don't say "normal" and "untrained".
The story with Koven and Walsh is that Jamie Koven is long retired from rowing. He is a normal guy with a wife, kid, and a full time job (granted a two time Olympian and multiple world champion in his day). When Beau was hurt, Jamie jumped into the pair with Dan Walsh at the last second with no prior training. They came in 3rd at the National Selection Regatta. That is ridiculous. I know it isn't the normal kind of crew of the week, and maybe it shouldn't deserve to win, but for an untrained retired rower to jump into a pair on Friday, and then place third on Saturday in the National Selection Regatta is crazy. 99% of all the rowers nominated for crew of the week will train six days a week for years, and never even come close to being invited to the National Selection Regatta.
Actually, no one ever comes close to being INVITED to NSR's. Since ANYONE can just enter on regattacentral. Still, if he really isn't training (not so sure about - but I do know it was the first or second time they rowed together) it's pretty impressive.
Sorry to see that no one nominated Cal Men's 8. What a race! Shame that all three crews couldn't have won. Well, at least they will get one more chance to beat up on each other.
Big ups to the Washington State University's Novice 8. They just made school history by being the first team in the club's history to upset OSU and have Stanford shittin' bricks. Currently no. 2 heding into ACRA's, let's go Cougs!!!
Amazing week for Radcliffe- they really showed their true speed and moved from 15th to 6th in the national rankings..Congrats and can't wait for Camden...
Here is a BIG "Shout Out" for the Episcopal Academy Senior Womens Quad who won the Stotesbury Championship by the largest margin of another crew at the regatta. They also went the entire season without a loss and we all wish them Good Luck at the Scholastic National Championships at Mercer Lake.
GO, FIGHT, WIN LADIES!!!!
Why are Washington's Freshman 8s even up? EVERY-body knows that Washington's mens frosh 8 are the best in the country. There was no great upset or remarkable race. I have no doubt in my mind they will win IRAs. I, however, do not know the story behind their women's frosh. Would someone care to enlighten me.
Crew of the week doesn't always have to be the underdog. Just because Washington is traditionally a strong program, doesn't mean than their rowers don't work hard as hell to get fast each year.
A valid point, however, I don't think you understand the point of Crew of the Week. Its supposed to be about a crew that had an exceptional race under extraordinary conditions or was an underdog in a race. I don't believe Washington's mens frosh fit either of those criteria when they Are the fastest in the country. They have best stern pair of any varsity 8 and no less they are in the freshman 8. No other freshman crew in the country has a chance against Men with the caliber of training and the experience that they have being that they are German national teamers.
people really need to start reading the Crew of the Week page with the descriptions of the nominated crews. http://www.row2k.com/features/features.cfm?action=read&ID=414 nominated crews either had an exceptional race OR overcame difficult conditions. Since all of the crews listed are nominated and selected by Row2k I think it's safe to say all of the listed crews meet the criteria and are worthy of winning.
37.8%