Carnegie Currents: March/April 1999, Vol. XIII, No. 2
Let the Record Show...
The Bar Is Raised at ’99 Laker Erg Race
The theme was improvement at this year’s Laker Erg Race, held March 6 at the Princeton boathouse. Winter training appears to have paid off for many rowers — seven new records were set and lots of competitors posted personal bests for the the 2000-meter piece. There also were many improvements in how the race was run. Some highlights:
-
Records fell like autumn leaves. Of the 13 events included in this year’s race, new records were set in seven. The Masters events saw the most improvement, were records were set by Camille Tropp (Women 50-59), Loretta McCarthy (Women 40-49), Ellen Monson (Women 30-39), Steve Rounds, Sr. (Men 70-79, with a new world record), Pim Goodbody (Men 60-69) and Charlie Williams (Men 50-59). And Will Rifflemacher set a new record in the Lightweight Men’s event.
-
The fastest men’s time of the day was Brian Cooleen’s 6:21.1, which gave him the gold in the Men’s Open event, still leaving Herb Klei’s 1997 record of 6:16.0 intact so the friendly rivalry can continue another year.
-
Novice rower Ellen Monson posted the fastest women’s time of the day with a 7:46.9 in the Master Women’s 30-39 event. Asked if this was her personal best, Ellen replied, "Well, yes. It’s my first, so I guess it’s my best." Ellen’s score was all the more impressive considering she had just returned to the erg a week before the race after suffering a back injury earlier in the winter.
-
Veteran Stuyve Pell showed up to row "the only 2000-meter erg piece I’ve done since last year’s erg race." He finished with an impressive 7:18.8 in the Men’s 60-69 event. An accomplished sculler, Stuyve trains on his own and says his winter training program lots of long pieces, usually 12- to 15,000 meters at 18 to 22 stroke rating.
-
Technology factored into the event, with a laptop on hand to make up teams for the 2500-meter relay, adding to accuracy and effiency. With the help of Jim Vartuli and Steve Rounds, Jr., results were recorded and entered so they could be sent immediately to Concept II for the world rankings due out later this year.
-
Winners were awarded a great looking new medal designed by Sheryl Tepper, who helped organize the race along with Loretta McCarthy and Tom Heebink.
Thanks to the coaches for helping rowers really improve their technique and strength this winter with an outstanding training program.
Now let’s take it to the water!