13 Fall East Coast Speed Order
Josh Konieczny during his winning '13 Speed Order. From USRowing Flickr - http://bit.ly/17Ufb5c
Last Updated: 13.Nov.2013
As the GRP ski team took to snow for the first time this season, the GRP rowers travelled down to Princeton, New Jersey to compete in the USRowing Fall Speed Order for their last rowing race of 2013. The speed order consisted of a 6 km erg piece indoors on Saturday that determined the start order of a 4.25 km time trial on Lake Carnegie in singles and pairs on Sunday. Last year GRP rowers won both the men’s heavyweight and lightweight singles and the squad was looking to build on that performance for this year.
Racing kicked off on Saturday with the 6km erg test to determine the start order for Sunday’s time trial on the water. Josh Konieczny led the group with the top score in the lightweight division, almost 10 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. Steve Whelpley was the top heavyweight finisher in 6th place for the men’s heavyweight division with Jamie Chapman taking the top GRP spot in the women’s open division at 10th place and Sarah Keller finishing 7th in the lightweight women’s division. Overall the erg marked a strong showing for the Green Team with nine personal bests set going into the racing on Sunday - all the more impressive as the GRP Rowers haven't spent appreciable time on the erg to this point in the year. Check here for Saturday’s results.
While the erg test hadn't perhaps been a focus for the GRP Rowers, Sunday's time trial event was a culmination of the team's work all fall. 4.25k time trial took place on Princeton University’s home course on Lake Carnegie. The team was hoping to improve on last year’s strong performance at this regatta and did not disappoint. Phil Grisdela and Phil Henson were the first on the water, racing as lightweights in the men’s open pair and coming in 4th out of 7 pairs. Next up was the men’s heavyweight single, which John Graves won at last year’s event. John was able to defend his title, taking first place by almost 20 seconds over his brother Peter Graves in second place. Steve Whelpley also made the podium for Craftsbury in third place, followed by teammate Ben Dann in 6th place.
Hugh McAdam also hoped to defend his 2012 title, but came up short, by 0.2 seconds to teammate Josh Konieczny who took the top spot this year. Both Hugh and Josh were 15 seconds ahead of the third place finisher, Craftsbury coach Austin Meyer, with Kyle Lafferty close behind in 4th place.
The GRP women also had a strong showing, with Elizabeth Sonshine taking the top spot for the squad in 4th place, followed soon after by Emily Driessigacker in 5th. Maggie Fellows was next for Craftsbury in 19th place, ahead of Jamie Chapman in 20th and Keziah Beall in 21st. Sarah Keller marked another GRP podium finish, taking third place in the women’s lightweight single.
Find the results from all of Sunday’s racing here.
The highly successful speed order closes the fall 2013 season. The GRP rowers returned to the Northeast Kingdom welcomed by snow and the promise of skiing in the next few weeks. While the next major rowing races are not until the spring, the team heads into the winter building the fitness and power that will help win the spring and summer's contests. Watch out for the rowers at the weekly Tuesday night ski races at the Center as they trade in oars for skis and be sure to follow the GRP website, Facebook page and Twitter feed to follow the training!