2012 Olympians to Compete in OCU Head of the Oklahoma

Prendes, LaCava, Newell, and Fahden at the London Olympics

The Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma returns to the Boathouse District at the Oklahoma River, Sept. 29-30, 2012, with all the excitement you’ve come to expect from Oklahoma’s premier regatta. The race is held as part of the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, a four-day event running September 27-30.

Oklahoma City National High Performance Center athletes and 2012 Olympians, Tom Peszek, Robin Prendes, and Will Newell are scheduled to compete in Saturday's racing. Peszek represented the United States in London in the Men's Pair with Silas Stafford while Prendes and Newell competed in the Lightweight Men's Four with Anthony Fahden and Nick LaCava.

The event will also feature members of the 2012 World Championship team that competed in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in August. Will Daly and Greg Flood from the Lightweight Men's Pair, Michelle Sechser from the Lightweight Women's Quad, Blaise Didier, Stephen Young and Justin Stangel from the Men's Pair with Coxswain are entered in events to take place on Saturday.

Other notable competitors include 3 time US National Team member Kate Bertko and four time US National Team Member and World Record Holder in the Under 23 Women's Pair, Grace Luczak. Past National Team members Ryan Monaghan, Christian Klein, Daniel Kiranne, Max Goff, Jen Forbes, Kelly Pierce, Henry Cole, Kat Schiro, Frank Petrucci will also represent USRowing Training Center - OKC at the event.

The OCU Head of the Oklahoma includes 2.5 mile head racing during the day with key races acting as qualifiers for the 500m OGE Night Sprints Saturday evening. Events include collegiate, masters, and junior rowing as well as kayak and dragon boat racing.

The Oklahoma Regatta Festival kicks off Thursday and Friday evenings, 6-10 pm, with the OG&E Night Sprints featuring Corporate Rowing and Dragon Boat League racing. Racing continues throughout the day on Saturday with festival activities including live music, great food, the Olympic Experience, a children’s area and inflatable zone. Each evening will end with athletes and spectators enjoying fireworks over the river.

Cheer for local favorites – Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, University of Tulsa plus OKC RIVERSPORT masters and juniors – as well as some of the top teams from across the country.