VASRA State Championships

We competed in the VASRA state Championship regatta on May 9th. Our top women's 4 and a women's junior four (four of our novices) competed. Neither crew advanced out of their heats, a fate shared by 13 other crews in these events.

Results for the W-4-1 event are below. First the four heats:

 After the heats the top twelve crews raced in two semi-finals with the top three from each semi racing in a final for the state title (and the bottom six being assigned to the petite finals.) Those results are below.

I see that only one of the EVSRA crews that competed (Gloucester Maury, First Colonial and Catholic) made it out of the heats to the finals in this tough event. We were hampered by illness (both Anna and Rachel) but I note they decreased the delta t versus Maury's time that both crews posted at the EVSRA champs. Well done, girls.

For the WJr 4 event we entered a crew of 4 novices. Typically this event is competed by the best crews in each school that are not seniors (most having girls that have rowed for three years.) Our novices learned a lot. Seeing what's required at the next level allows one to set higher goals.

The top six boats raced in the finals of this event. Those results are below.

For comparison, I found the results of the Ted Phoenix regatta also rowed at Occoquan a week earlier, that same day we rowed at Mathews. This regatta is restricted to novices only and the winning crews are declared state champs in their events. The results for the WN4 are below.

And while it's dangerous to compare times on different days due to different conditions, both regattas were run over the same distance on the same course. The time our novice girls posted at States would have placed then ahead of Fairfax, Granby and West Potomac at the Ted Phoenix and just shy of a medal at the state level. I am proud of this crew that has mainly rowed as the stern four of our WN8 and actually practiced as a four less than a dozen times.

At States I awarded Mrs. King the "Jay O'Brien Pull Hard! Award" for her sustained support and dedication over four years. Thank-you Stephanie for all your efforts. We'll miss both you and Anna.

I also thank Granby for transporting our hulls to and from Occoquan and on their M-1-4X crew that won their event and return with the state championship trophy.