Graves and Dann qualify for World Champs

Ben and John in early season racing action.

Last Updated: 05.Aug.2015

Ben Dann and John Graves finished their time in Princeton, New Jersey exactly where they wanted to be, comfortably ahead in the final of the men's double at Senior World Championship Trials II. Dann and Graves' victory capped off a season-long goal of qualifying for Worlds in order to gain experience in advance of next year's Olympic Games. The duo defeated California Rowing Club's Paul Marcy and Ryan Shelton by 8 seconds to earn the right to race in Aiguebelette, France at the end of August. 

The remaining GRP crews in the finals raced valiantly, but failed to qualify. Tom Graves was neck and neck with 2008 Olympian Ken Jurkowski until Jurkowski inched ahead in the final 500m to take a 1 second victory. Parker Washburn and Andrew Reed finished third in the pair, behind two boats from the Princeton Training Center, and the quad of Erik Frid, Peter Graves, Willie Cowles, and Steve Whelpley fell to their rivals at the California Rowing Club. 

Results from Wednesday's finals:

2015 Senior World Championship Trials II