Justin Moore & US 8+ GOLDEN at World Rowing Junior Championships

BRIVE-LA-GAILLAIRDE, FRANCE (8/08/09) – Williams College women’s crew head coach Justin Moore capped off an incredible year by guiding the US 8+ women to the gold medal in an impressive open water victory at the World Rowing Junior Championships.

Moore felt that if his US boat could get a good start they could win it in the middle K, but as much as coaches prepare for races and athletes train you just never know what is going to happen. 

The US was up to the pressure of the challenge to repeat in the event. Under ideal water conditions and a warm day the US turned up the heat from the start and was second to New Zealand at the end of the first 500m – New Zealand (1:32.89); US 1:33.16.

At 1000m the US took a .61 lead on New Zealand by clocking a 3:10.38, while the Kiwis timed in 3:10.89. Moore’s red, white and blue then took control of the race over the next 500m extending their lead to 1.81 by passing the 1500m checkpoint in 4:47.92 with New Zealand next at 4:49.73. 

Over the final 500m the impressive raw power of the US boat that Moore noted in the training sessions sent the US home with an open water win and a margin of 4.30 over New Zealand. Germany made a final push to knock the Romanians off the medals podium finishing in 6:34.97. Romania came in fourth (6:39.58); host France was fifth (6:41.18) and Russia was sixth (6:56.85).

The top three boats all earned a spot in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore next August (14-26).

Moore could now easily be granted the nickname “Midas” for his golden touch on the US collegiate scene and now on the international stage. Moore’s Williams program has claimed five NCAA Division III titles of the eight offered, including the last four in a row (a Division III record). His Ephs also captured last fall’s Collegiate Eight at the prestigious Head of the Charles and in the spring Williams collected the Little Three, NESCAC, New England and NCAA titles while posting an undefeated season. Most recently one of Moore’s top rowers Katherine Robinson ’09 helped the US U23 quad boat win a silver medal at the World U23 Championships.

Justin Moore celebrates gold medal effort by US 8+

Justin Moore's post-race comments:

"Right now what I feel more than anything is gratitude. There are so many people that I need to thank - for support, advice and hard work, that the list is simply too long to comprehend."

"The race unfolded exactly as I hoped it would. The women went off the line at 46 strokes per minute - this is two beats higher than where we traditionally practiced, but they were determined not to be left behind in the first 500 meters."

"When I saw that we came through the first 500m only 0.28 behind New Zealand -- who were doing all that they could to get away from us, I began to get the feeling that this race could be ours." 

"Our middle 1K was tremendous. In preparation for this event, I reviewed the racing for the past 10 years. The standard profile was 1:33 first 500; 1:38/9 second 500; 1:39/40 3rd 500; then 138/9 4th 500.  We went 1:33; 1:37; 1:37; 1:38. That was, without a doubt, one of the strongest middle 1Ks the US has ever put down."

"We were extremely proud of how our 4- and 2- raced in their finals.  While they did not finish in the medals, both  boats raced with tremendous courage. Each boat put themselves in a position to medal at the half way point, we simply did not have the juice to finish with the Chinese, Australians or Romanians in these smaller boats. Still, each crew outperformed their "goal standard" for the competition, and this gave us confidence going into the 8+."

Quotes and summary following courtesy of www.worldrowing.com:

Junior Women's Eight - Final A

Results: USA - NZL - GER - ROU - FRA - RUS

Elisabeth Murray, Molly Hamrick, Brandy Herald, Rebaca Felix, Louise Breen, Michelle Pearson, Kristin Wentzel, Kelly Bauer, Chelsea Lucas (USA) – Gold
“We were confident that if we were in the first place after 500 meters, we would be able to win. We weren’t thinking of the fact that we were the defending champions. Now we are all going to celebrate together and have some fun!” Chelsea Lucas

Catherine Shields, Robyn Munro, Tarsha Williams, Hayley Hoogeveen, Zoe Stevenson, Eve Macfarlane, Kirstyn Goodger, Jennifer Storey, Frances Turner (NZL) – Silver
“It was a very fast race right from the start and we gave it everything we had, but the Americans were just too strong. It’s still great though to be in the medals.” Kirstyn Goodger

Sara Davids, Wiebke Hein, Theda Lehmann, Anna-Maria Goetz, Marie Wintjen, Charlotte Siering, Constanze Siering, Mandy Gruner, Julia Kosmol (GER) – Bronze
“We are very happy. We didn’t really expect this. We will celebrate tonight.” Marie Wintjen

Junior Women's Eight - Final A

 It may have taken until the close of the day, but the United States pulled it off. In their priority event, the women’s eight, the Americans rowed a very well paced race to be the easy winners. The United States are the Olympic Champions in the eight and also hold the World Best Time. With the success of their juniors today, it looks like their domination of this event will continue.

At the start of the race New Zealand got off the line first. New Zealand came to the final through the repechage and, thus, had had one more race than the Americans. It must have served them well. By the half way-point the United States had moved into the lead but New Zealand was sticking to them like glue. This leaders tussle left the rest of the field over a length back. As crews moved into the final stretch Germany, who had been sitting out of the medals in fourth, went after the Romanians in third.

Germany had a good push. Romania had no answer. The United States, New Zealand and Germany are the medalists.

The top three places in this event earned a spot for their country in the Youth Olympic Games.