LONG BEACH, Calif. - Racing at the 2008 Masters National Championships kicked off Thursday at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, Calif. with heats and finals in 59 events.
In the women's AA single sculls, Long Beach Rowing Association's Katrin Gleie won gold in the six-boat final. Gleie, a member of Denmark's women's quadruple sculls crew that finished sixth at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, clocked a 4:05.58 for a comfortable first-place finish. Northbay Rowing Club's Abigail Smyth crossed second in a 4:15.98, with Sherry Mullin of Chesapeake Boathouse in a 4:17.14 for third.
"This is my first year racing seriously after graduating from USC," said Gleie, who will also compete in the club B eight and C double sculls before the end of the week. "This is a little bit more relaxed, but I still get the nerves and want to do well."
The closest finish of the day resulted in a gold medal for Lincoln Park Boat Club's Francis Tuite in the lightweight women's B single sculls. Tuite crossed just 0.41 seconds ahead of Long Beach Rowing Association's Sabrina ArisGuentz for first place in a 4:19.87. ArisGuentz clocked a 4:20.28, followed closely by Dallas Rowing Club's Amy Molenaar in third with a 4:20.89.
In the men's C quadruple sculls, Texas Rowing Club's crew of Matt Knifton, Ken Gates, Radu Boghici and Jason Savage won gold in a 3:20.12. Pocock Rowing Center crossed second in a 3:23.26, with San Diego Rowing Club in a 3:27.57 for third.
Cheered on by a pair of sea lions that surfaced in an outside lane, Chuck Selden and Dennis Sitek of Long Beach Rowing Association won the men's E pair in a 3:46.16. The duo crossed 1.87 seconds ahead of Ashland Rowing Club's 3:48.03. Willamette Rowing Club clocked a 3:52.98 for third, with San Diego Rowing Club in fourth.
In the women's club D eight, Marin Rowing Association's crew of coxswain Mary Boland, Cate Wallenfels, Laura Short, Cheryl Brink, Kate Boyd, Terry McGaw, Brigitte Merrell, Stacey Ford and Jodi Vanneman crossed first in a 3:42.02 to win gold and defeat the defending-champion crew from Saugatuck Rowing Club by 2.71 seconds. Saugatuck crossed in a 3:44.73, with Greater Columbus Rowing Association in third with a 3:48.22. Community Rowing, Inc. missed the medal stand by just over a second, finishing in fourth place with a 3:49.34.
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 XX 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 continues Friday with heats and finals. For complete schedule and race results, visit www.racetrak.com.