World Rowing Junior Championships Feature: Marin Rowing Association Involved at All Levels

The World Rowing Junior Championships are in full swing in Eton, and let me say that we here at RowingRelated are excited to see what Team USA can accomplish. The Southwest region is very well represented, with a large number of athletes from Marin Rowing Association in the sweep boats (half the women's eight, which is being coached by MRA Head Coach Sandy Armstrong, and the JM4-). Another top story is Vashon Island freshman Mia Croonquist, who has made one of the top priority boats on the women's side, the W4-, coached by Liz Trond of Connecticut Boat Club. Croonquist, according to this article, is the youngest person ever to make the US Junior National Team. Olympian and former US National Teamer, and current Williams Head Coach Kate Maloney is also part of the coaching staff, working with the women's pair.

We are looking for very strong performances from the men's and women's eights, as the men's eight will enter as the defending champions, and the women's lineup looks extremely competitive, featuring an athlete from the surprising James Madison program headed up by IRN/RR Interviewee Paul Allbright. The venue itself will lend an added edge to the proceedings, and Team GB will certainly want to show that they have a dominant program from top to bottom in the build up to the 2012 Games in London. Add to that a very deep German squad with its sights set on emulating their counterparts on the senior team, and you have the recipe for what will promises to be an outstanding weekend in Eton (despite its proximity to Slough).

RR is on the ground in Eton Dorney, and will be posting updates from the course as the weekend approaches. Also, Bryan is teaming up with The Independent Rowing News once again, and will be bringing coverage from St. Catharines to the IRN website throughout the weekend (check the IRN website for recaps and photos of the racing).

Upcoming article: Back-to-Back Head of the Charles Champion Graves Brothers Take Top Spot at Trials.

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