Lotman Challenge Wrap-Up

GRP training partner John Graves gets the giant check. USRowing Photo.

Three members of the GRP competed in the third and final leg of the 2019 Lotman Challenge in Camden, NJ last weekend. The Lotman Challenge is a race series made up of three legs that tests competitors over different distances. An official statement from the Gold Cup Committee says “The U.S. Lotion Challenge carries the distinction of being the only race offering a substantial cash prize to the top scoring male and female rowers continuing to both attract and support America’s top rowers.”  

The first leg of the Lotman series consisted of three opportunities to qualify over a 2000m distance. USRowing 1x Trials, where the top four female and male scullers proceed to the second leg. USRowing 2x Trials, where the winners of the male and female 2x’s earned the right to move on, and finally USRowing National Championships where the winners of the male and female 1x’s also earned the bid for the second leg. At the end of the first leg, four Green Racing Project athletes (John Graves, Kevin Meador, Mickey Fili and Jen Forbes) had earned their right to represent the Cedar Leaves in the second leg of the Lotman Challenge.

The second leg of the Lotman Challenge tested competitors over a longer distance. All who qualified in the first leg were given a bid for the Champ 1x category at the Head of the Charles Regatta. The four male and female scullers with the top cumulative points from the first two legs earned the right to race in the final leg of the challenge. John, Kevin and Mickey’s performances at HOCR secured their spots in the finals.

The final leg of the Lotman Challenge took place at Cooper River Park in Camden, NJ and was run in conjunction with the Gold Cup Championship. The Challenge culminated with a final-only sprint race over 750m. The women were the first to take a run down the course. US National Teamer and Olympic qualifier, Kara Kohler, held off Cicely Madden for a first place finish, and our Mickey Fili came in fourth after a hard fought battle. “It was really cool to be a part of the Lotman Challenge for a third year in a row and to compete against the United States’ best.” says GRP athlete, Mickey Fili, “It has been especially cool to see how the event has grown with junior events and Para inclusion”

In the men's race, John Graves got off the line swiftly, worked away from his competition in the middle 300m, and was able to hold off the field as he cruised to a first place finish with Michael Knippen and GRP’s Kevin Meador coming in a close second and third place respectively. “I am very pleased to finish 2019 on a high note after a tough start to the year” said Graves. “It was awesome to see Craftsbury’s name on top and especially to see us go 1-2 in the overall standings.” 

Congratulations to our Green Racing Project scullers for continuing to represent Craftsbury at the highest level! The team now looks forward to this weekend’s racing at the USRowing Fall Speed Order in Princeton, NJ. GO GREEN!

Mickey and Kevin in Camden, NJ in their new gear from Regattasport.