Last Updated: 21.Apr.2018

GRP rowers opened their summer racing season this past Tuesday with the National Selection Regatta I (NSR I) and Spring Speed Order I (SSO I). Openweight athletes Lucas Bellows, Jen Forbes, John Graves, Frank Horpel, Nathan Lado, and Wes Vear raced Tuesday through Thursday with Team USA World Cup start rights on the line. For Forbes and Horpel, this marked not only their first NSR (also Bellows' NSR debut), but also their first 2k race in singles. Jenny McIlvane, who still has U23 eligibility, raced against senior level lightweights in the SSO event, for the chance to petition to go to a World Cup this spring. Follow this link to learn more information about USRowing Senior Selection and petition procedures. 

Racing began on Tuesday morning, with a 1900 meter time trial. Top 16 time trial times progressed to heats, while times after the top 16 progressed to the D+ finals. Conditions were challenging throughout the week with strong tailwinds that shifted direction and speed, with temperatures hovering in the mid thirties and forties for the duration of the week. The water was choppy by the end of Thursdays racing, but less challenging than Tuesday and Wednesday's morning time trial and heats, respectively. All athletes - GRP and otherwise - did an exceptional job at racing the conditions. The field of US scullers is expanding, as is the quality - this regatta was an example of such.

Graves won the men's single, giving him the option to race in any of the World Cups this spring, and putting him in good standing for the US Lotman Challenge. Row2k interviewed Graves about his race, the challenge of the regatta, and his plans for the remainder of the spring and summer racing series. Forbes, McIlvane, and Vear all placed 9th overall, while Horpel finished 11th. Bellows’ D final race was cancelled resulting in his overall finish of 17th. Lado did not start, due to complications before the start of his race. 

Results from the week found below:
Tuesday April 17, 2018
Mens 1x Time Trial, top 16 to heats, everyone else to D+ finals
Graves (9th) - 7:05.49
Vear (10th) - 7:06.16
Horpel (14th) - 7:13.05
Bellows (17th) - 7:16.74
Fastest time: Greg Ansolabehere, PennAC (6:53.64)

Womens 1x Time Trial, top 16 to heats, everyone else to D+ finals
Forbes (4th), advance to heats - 7:33.23
Fastest time: Felice Mueller, USTC (7:22.67)

Womens Ltwt 1x Time Trial, top 16 to heats, everyone else to D+ finals
McIlvane (11th), advance to heats - 8:05.30
Fastest time: Mary Nabel, Cambridge (7:43.59)

Wednesday April 18, 2018
Mens 1x Heats, top 4 advance to Semifinal
Heat 2:
Graves (2nd) - 7:21.65, 88.5%
Vear (4th) - 7:23.98, 88.1%
Fastest time: Justin Keen, PennAC (7:18.65, 89.1%)

Heat 3:
Horpel (4th) - 7:34.31, 86.1%
Fastest time: JP Kirkegaard, Vesper (7:26.90, 87.5%)

Womens 1x Heats, top 4 to advance to semifinal
Heat 3:
Forbes (3rd) - 8:17.60, 85.8%
Fastest time: Ellen Tomek, New York AC (8:12.52, 86.7%)

Womens Ltwt 1x Heats, top 4 to advance to semifinal
Heat 2:
McIlvane (3rd) - 8:07.61, 91.1%
Fastest time: Emily Schmieg, Potomac (7:56.89, 93.1%)

Mens 1x Semifinal, top 3 to advance to A Final, everyone else to B Final
Semifinal 1:
Vear (4th) - 7:15.12, 89.9%
Fastest time: Justin Keen, PennAC (7:11.59, 90.6%)

Semifinal 2:
Graves (2nd) - 7:09.25, 91.1%
Horpel (6th) - 7:24.83, 87.9%
Fastest time: JP Kirgegaard, Vesper (7:06.95, 91.6%)

Womens 1x Semifinal , top 3 to advance to A Final, everyone else to B Final
Semifinal 1:
Forbes (4th) - 7:47.09, 91.4%
Fastest time: Felice Mueller, USTC (7:34.96, 93.9%)

Thursday April 19, 2018
Mens 1x A Final
Graves (1st) - 7:21.41, 88.6%

Mens 1x B Final
Vear (3rd) - 7:19.80, 88.9%
Horpel (5th) - 7:27.99, 87.3%
Fastest time: Greg Ansolabehere, PennAC (7:17.89, 89.3%)

Women’s 1x B Final
Forbes (3rd) - 8:03.21, 88.4%
Fastest time: Kara Soucek, ARION (7:57.07, 89.5%)

Women’s Ltwt 1x B Final
McIlvane (3rd) - 8:29.70, 87.1%
Fastest time: Christine Cavallo, Unaff. USA (8:17.17, 89.3%)

To see the complete results from NSR I, go to HereNow
Photo coverage of the regatta can be found at Row2k 

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Article contributor: Jenifer Forbes