Monthly Archives: May 2014

2014 National Selection Regatta II Recap

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USRowing Training Center-OKC W2x and LW2x NSR II winners. (L-R Devery Karz, Michele Sechser, Jeremy Ivey, Ellen Tomek, Meghan O'Leary) Photo Credit: USRowing
USRowing Training Center-OKC W2x and LW2x NSR II winners. (L-R Devery Karz, Michele Sechser, Jeremy Ivey, Ellen Tomek, Meghan O’Leary) Photo Credit: USRowing

Last weekend concluded the 2014 series of USRowing National Selection Regattas (NSR) I and II. Held on Mercer Lake in Princeton, New Jersey, the NSRs provide opportunities for athletes to take the first step toward making the United States National Senior Team. The winning women’s and men’s crews of the pair, single, double sculls and lightweight double sculls are awarded the opportunity to compete at World Cup 2 or 3 to then qualify for the World Championships (and thereby solidify their spots on the National Team). The NSRs are also formatted as a step toward entrance into or ranking for big boat camp selection for the men’s eight and four; and the women’s eight, quadruple sculls, and four.

For my double partner, Ellen and me, the goal for NSR II was to win each race: take the fastest time in the time trial, win our semifinal, and of course, take home the all important win in the final. We were rested and healthy. Our race preparation pieces leading into the week had been solid, and the boat was moving well. We felt good. All that was left to to do was to execute.

The 1900-meter time trial on Thursday morning went off accordingly and we posted the fastest time (6:49.67) by nearly four seconds. The weather the following day for the semifinals was absolutely horrendous. In conditions like that, anything can happen. We fought our way down the course in an 18-mph crosswind with gusts up to 30-mph, survived a few diggers and one boat-stopping crab (by yours truly), but managed to finish comfortably ahead of the field in first place. The winning crew of the other semifinal, Stesha Carle and Gevvie Stone (SoCal Scullers/Cambridge Boat Club) had posted a faster time than us by just under two seconds.

Fighting the horrendous conditions during the NSR II Friday semifinals. Photo credit: Erik Dresser
Fighting difficult conditions during the NSR II Friday semifinals. Photo credit: Erik Dresser

The morning of the final, the weather had thankfully calmed down and we arrived at the course to find a serene sunrise over flat water with the faintest puff of a breeze. The racing would be fair and fast. You can’t ask for a better finals day than that. Ellen and I won in a time of 6:54.47, nearly five seconds ahead of the next crew of Carle and Stone in second (6:59.20), followed by Lindsay Meyer and Nicole Ritchie (Seattle Rowing Club/Vesper Boat Club) in third (7:00.81).

Saturday Finals, NSR II
Saturday Finals, NSR II. Photo credit: row2k

In a few weeks, Ellen and I will travel to Aiguebelette, France to compete at World Cup 2 to try and qualify for the World Championships taking place later this summer in Amsterdam. Congratulations to all of the crews who punched their tickets to a World Cup last week. Step one of many more to come. Back to work to go fast and represent Team USA.

Every Day Counts.

Race Week: NSR II

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An early training morning in the W2x on Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ. Photo credit: Erik Dresser, row2k

Racing week. The 2014 National Selection Regatta II begins in less than two days. As with any big regatta, there’s excitement, anxiety, and a specific focus that comes from knowing that you’ve put in hours upon hours of hard work, pounded yourself on the water and in the weight room, cried in frustration and celebrated in the small victories all for this: racing week.

For Ellen and me along with nine other boats entered in the women’s double sculls event, the week will consist of three races: a time trial on Thursday morning, Friday semifinal, and Saturday final. That is roughly 21-22 minutes of total racing. Room for error doesn’t exactly exist in rowing. You don’t have nine innings to “sort things out” or four quarters to “get the momentum back.” Every stroke and every second matters in a 2,000-meter race. Excitement, anxiety, focus.

In the women’s double event, the time trial will determine seeding for two semifinals of five boats with the top three advancing to the A Final, bottom two to the B Final. Obviously, the goal for any boat entered is to win. With a win, comes the opportunity to represent the United States and compete at a World Cup in order to hopefully qualify for the World Championships, securing a spot on the 2014 National Team.

Other boats competing at NSR II include the men’s double sculls, men’s pair, men’s lightweight double sculls, and women’s lightweight double sculls. In less than 48 hours, forty-four crews representing 14 clubs will converge upon the waters of Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey to duke it out. The field is stacked with a plethora of Olympians and multi-time national team members and promises to be some fast and competitive racing.

Every Day Counts.

2014 National Selection Regatta II racing schedule and results can be found HERE.