Boston, Massachusetts - Rockland Rowing braved the roads Sunday in spite of a winter storm to compete at the CRASH-B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship. The 2,000 meter race was held at Boston University's Agganis Arena where there were over 2,000 registered competitors. Given the size of the arena, quality of competition, and number of spectators the environment is overwhelming for most.
Juliette Frank, girl's team captain finished a program best 11th place in the junior women's open weight division, which saw 191 athletes compete, while setting a new personal record of 7:21.1. Her time would have placed inside the top 40 in the women's open division, an event heavily subscribed by top collegiate, club, and international talent alike. Juliette is a senior at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, NJ and has been recruited to row at UCLA this fall. Leading up to the race Juliette felt she was capable of executing a great race, "I knew I was prepared because I had trained hard throughout the season and all I needed to do was do that work justice." Rowing director and head coach Melissa Boyd coxed Juliette through the race and had this to say about it afterwards, "Juliette is an amazing athlete with impressive drive and motivation. Her execution of the race plan was flawless."
Lightweight rower Gabriele Welp, a sophomore at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, NJ decisively won her heat, with a personal best of 7:56.5. Overall she finished in the top quarter of the lightweight junior women's event in a competitive field of 106 rowers. Coach Boyd said, "Gabby is a young rower who has a ton of potential and incredible work ethic. She's definitely a rower to watch."
Alexander Arcasoy, boy's team captain and a senior at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, NJ finished in the top third of the junior men's heavyweight division. He narrowly missed setting a personal record, but showed great improvement since last year at CRASH-B's. This year he finished 30 seconds faster with a time of 6:46.7. "I've always been impressed with Alexander," said coach Boyd, "He has high expectations of himself. I think he's just starting to scratch the surface of his rowing potential and we anticipate big things from him."
Ryan Almond, a freshman at Clarkstown North High School in NY won his heat and established a new personal best with a time of 7:21.9 in the junior men's lightweight division. "Ryan is a fierce competitor and side-by-side racing brings out his best effort," said coach Boyd, "this will serve him well when we return to the water in the spring."
Overall it was a successful day for Rockland. The team will resume winter training in search of even more fitness and speed over the next several weeks before returning to Rockland Lake in March.