On to the Semis: Bertko and Dinion First in Heats

The first day of racing at the 2013 National Selection Regatta #1 is complete and semifinals are set for tomorrow morning on Mercer Lake with the top four crews of each heat advancing this evening.

After posting the fastest time of the morning time trials, Craftsbury Sculling Center’s John Graves won the first heat of the men’s single sculls with a time of 7:12.924. Potomac Boat Club took the second and third-place slots with Matt Miller in a 7:16.334 and Beijing Olympian Sam Stitt in a 7:18.322. Penn A.C. Rowing Association’s Justin Keen rounded out the top four with a time of 7:19.728. USRowing Training Center - OKC's Jameson Harper finished in 5th place, failing to advance and will race in the C Final tomorrow morning.

In the second race, Potomac’s Willie Cowles clocked the fastest time with a 7:15.401, finishing 2.6 seconds ahead of USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Glenn Ochal, who finished in a 7:18.058. Craftsbury’s Ben Dann came third in a 7:19.293, with Potomac’s Joe Ledvina fourth in a 7:22.348.

Heat three saw Lake Samish Training Center’s Nick Trojan win with the fastest time of the men’s singles. Trojan posted a 7:08.330 to Craftsbury’s Stephen Whelpley, who clocked a 7:10.680. GMS Rowing Center’s Ricky Holak finished in a 7:12.963, with USRowing TC – OKC’s Greg Ansolabehere fourth in a 7:13.626. Greg will race tomorrow morning for a spot in Saturday's Final A.

USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Kate Bertko won the time trial of the lightweight women’s single sculls Thursday morning, and then returned to post the fastest time of the afternoon heats. Bertko, won represented the U.S. in the women’s double at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, won the first of three heats in a 7:52.509. Vesper’s Mary Jones, Riverside’s Mary Foster and Riverside’s Laurissa Gulich rounded out the top four.

CRC’s Kristin Hedstrom won the second heat in an 8:02.716, followed by Potomac’s Devery Karz  in an 8:04.617. USRowing TC – OKC’s Kathryn Schiro crossed third in an 8:20.678, with Riverside’s Cornelia Willis fourth in an 8:23.696.

In the last race of the evening, USRowing TC – OKC’s Nicole Dinion won in an 8:03.993. Riverside’s Hillary Saeger posted an 8:05.264, followed by USRowing TC – OKC’s Chelsea Smith in an 8:08.747 and CRC’s Michaela Copenhaver in an 8:14.259. All four OKC lightweight women will race tomorrow morning in the semi-finals.

The winners of the men’s and women’s single will earn the right to compete at one or both of the scheduled World Rowing Cup events and, if he or she finishes in the top four or top half of the field, earn a berth on the team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships August 25-September 1 in Chungju, South Korea.