Ephs Crew Coach Leads U.S. Team to World Victory
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| Justin Moore, left, and Williams assistant coach Brad Hemmerly at the 2009 NCAA Championships (photo by John McClellan) |
"Right now what I feel more than anything is gratitude. There are so many people that I need to thank — for support, advice and hard work, that the list is simply too long to comprehend," said Moore after his victory.
Moore felt that if his U.S. boat could get a good start it could win it in the middle K, but as much as coaches prepare for races and athletes train, you just never know what is going to happen.
"The race unfolded exactly as I hoped it would. The women went off the line at 46 strokes per minute — this is two beats higher than where we traditionally practiced, but they were determined not to be left behind in the first 500 meters."
The U.S. team was up to the pressure of the challenge to repeat in the event. Under ideal water conditions and a warm day, the women turned up the heat from the start and were second to New Zealand at the end of the first 500- meters, with New Zealand at 1:32.89 and the U.S. at 1:33.16.
"When I saw that we came through the first 500 meters only 0.28 behind New Zealand, who were doing all that they could to get away from us, I began to get the feeling that this race could be ours," said Moore.
At 1,000 meters the US took a .61 lead on New Zealand by clocking a 3:10.38, while the Kiwis timed in 3:10.89. Moore’s red, white and blue then took control of the race over the next 500m extending their lead to 1.81 by passing the 1500m checkpoint in 4:47.92 with New Zealand next at 4:49.73.
Over the final 500 meters, the impressive raw power of the U.S. boat that Moore noted in the training sessions sent them home with an open-water win and a margin of 4.30 over New Zealand. Germany made a final push to knock the Romanians off the medals podium finishing in 6:34.97. Romania came in fourth (6:39.58); host France was fifth (6:41.18) and Russia was sixth (6:56.85).
The top three boats all earned a spot in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore next Aug. 14-26.
"Our middle 1K was tremendous. In preparation for this event, I reviewed the racing for the past 10 years," said Moore. "The standard profile was 1:33 first 500; 1:38/9 second 500; 1:39/40 3rd 500; then 138/9 4th 500. We went 1:33; 1:37; 1:37; 1:38. That was, without a doubt, one of the strongest middle 1Ks the U.S. has ever put down."
Moore could now easily be granted the nickname "Midas" for his golden touch on the U.S. collegiate scene and now on the international stage. His Williams program has claimed five NCAA Division III titles of the eight offered, including the last four in a row (a Division III record). His Ephs also captured last fall's Collegiate Eight at the prestigious Head of the Charles and in the spring collected the Little Three, NESCAC, New England and NCAA titles while posting an undefeated season.
Most recently one of Moore's top rowers Katherine Robinson, a 2009 graduate, helped the U.S. U23 quad boat win a silver medal at the World Championships.
"We were extremely proud of how our 4- and 2- raced in their finals," added Moore. "While they did not finish in the medals, both boats raced with tremendous courage. Each boat put themselves in a position to medal at the halfway point, we simply did not have the juice to finish with the Chinese, Australians or Romanians in these smaller boats. Still, each crew outperformed their 'goal standard' for the competition, and this gave us confidence going into the 8-plus."
Quotes and summary courtesy of www.worldrowing.com.
