California Rowing Club Has Another Strong Showing At National Selection Regatta Event in New Jersey

The members of the California Rowing Club (CRC) continued on their strong 2022 qualifying campaign with another great performance at the second National Selection Regatta in West Windsor, New Jersey from May 3 – 6.

CRC rowers Justin Best and Mike Grady took first place in the Men’s Pairs competition, while their teammates Andy LeRoux and Mike Knippen finished third, followed by Peter Quinton and Oliver Bub in fourth place.

By virtue of their first-place finish, Best and Grady have qualified for the World Rowing Cup in Poznan, Poland on June 16 – 19.

"I felt like we went out on the course and executed the plan we wanted to: take the lead from the start, find a strong and long rhythm, take a few moves in the middle, and bring the split down in the closing 300 meters or so," Best told the Row2K website following the event. "We had a better race each time we got to the starting line this week. Overall satisfied with the performance but knowing there is still improvements to be made."

Best and Grady will join CRC teammate Ben Davison in Poland next month for the World Cup. Davison won the Single Sculls race the first National Selection Regatta in Sarasota, Florida in March, earning him a spot at the international competition.

Davison also had a nice showing in New Jersey, capturing third place in the Men’s Doubles race alongside teammate Chris Carlson. Andrew Gaard and Sorin Koszyk, also of the CRC, took fifth place in that race.

"We feel it was a solid week of racing,” California Rowing Club Head Coach Mike Teti said to Row2K.  “All 10 of our athletes made it into the A final which is a good step especially since we were battling some injuries and illness leading up to the regatta.”

If Davison and Best/Grady earn a top-six spot in their respective races in Poland, they will qualify for those classes at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.

While those athletes turn their immediate focus to the World Cup races, the other seven members of the CRC will still have opportunities to qualify for the competition. Those members are currently training in Sacramento for the US Rowing Selection Camp, which will determine who will represents the country in the Men’s 4- or 4x races in Poland.