In late May and June a selection camp decided the US entry to the LTA4+. The boat features 4 returners in Emma Preuschl (5 time national teamer and Paralympic silver medalist), Andrew Johnson (4 time national teamer), Eleni Englert (3 time national teamer), and Alex Stein (returning for her second year in the coxswain). Dorian Weber is the new addition to the boat, and is the eldest and most experienced in the line up. Introductions complete.
Things shaped up nicely in our week together in Charlottesville, VA. We spent a week of two-a-days together, getting in a mix of hard and technical strokes.
Luckily, this year we had two opportunities to race. On Friday we took to the Lake Mercer waters to go up against the USRowing Training Center - OKC. The boat included our two valiant spares Jason Beagle and Cathy Byington - both strong and technically sound. They both bring our boat confidence that we have great back-ups if we should need to call upon them. The two boat final was the last race at elite nationals and we went down the course strong and together. It was exciting to get in a head to head race - something we hadn't done at all last year. We were internally focused and tested our speed nicely. There was a certain confidence in the boat, brought on by the trust from having a few rows under our belts together, and also knowing that we have 6 weeks of work together ahead of us. This will be great time to find a togetherness, further confidence... to dig deep and find out what we're made of.
Yesterday we arrived on the Schuykill for the Independence Day Regatta. We raced in the Men's Master 4+ where we focused on the middle 500 of the piece. We wound up finishing 3rd in a field of 6. The margin the top 2 took on us they got right on the start. Feeling okay about the performance and also have some focal points that we take away from it.
Lots of time together this week on the Schuykill. We'll be finding #morespeedeveryday for sure.
