Long Beach - Beach Sprints 2008

Joanvb · Post by **Joanvb** » January 26th, 2008, 6:48 pm

Over 10 competitors beat the CRASH-B qualifying times so far at the Beach Sprints in Long Beach, California, and there may be more before the event is over today. Four will win the trip to Boston, determined by how far their time is under the qualifying time.
Among those beating the qualifying...Sorry, I didn't bring all the names and times home with me!....Bob Spenger (80-84 ltwt.), Mary Perrot (50-54 ltwt.), Steve Krum (50-54, time: 6:20), Henry Baker (60-64 ltwt.), and me.

Times posted later.

Rowmaniac · Post by **Rowmaniac** » January 26th, 2008, 7:46 pm

Hi, Joan. I'm a big fan of yours, just a novice in the 40-49 HWT category coming to terms with my addiction to rowing and training. Congratulations on another excellent race. Do you know when the times and/or qualifiers will be posted and where?

Your winning times are beginning to be as predictable as the next sunrise, but you seem to work so hard for every second. Congratulations. I heard the entries were at an all time high this year for LB. I can't wait to read the times.

If anyone has info on the qualifiers for today, we'd love to see!

Bob, well done! I knew you could do it and I'm thrilled. Way to go!!!!!

NavigationHazard · Post by **NavigationHazard** » January 26th, 2008, 8:13 pm

I think that LBRA plans to post the results on their club website as soon as possible after racing ends. Right now the link on their website points to a nonexistent page

I don't envy John Van Blom and/or the rest of the race committee, having to sort out 4 place-ticket winners from a host of qualifiers....

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » January 26th, 2008, 8:27 pm

Thanks for the feedback. I'm also interested in the times.

Joanvb · Post by **Joanvb** » January 26th, 2008, 11:07 pm

Deborah, thank you for the kind words...I'm enjoying following your progress and your fantastic times.

Regarding my earlier report about qualifiers...11 beat the qualifying time.

Sorry that Long Beach doesn't have immediate online posting of results...I hope complete results will be posted on the Long Beach Rowing Association's website by tomorrow afternoon, but no promises (all volunteers).

Today's competitors who beat the qualifying times:

Steve Krum, 50-54, 6:20
Henry Baker, 60-64 lwt., 6:57.4
Paul Cechner, 65-69, 7:15.3
David Duval, 65-69, 7:27.4
Joe Newman, 65-69, 7:32.1
Roger Runkle, 70-74 lwt., 7:59.3
Robert Spenger, 80-84, 8:11

Jill Austin, Collegiate lwt., 7:20.0
Laura Erhart, 40-49, 7:13.7 (Edit...I previously made an error in my post!)
Mary Perrot, 50-54 lwt., 7:44.7
Joan Van Blom, 55-59 lwt., 7:33.4

Record entries for today's event....over 400...I don't know, yet, how many actually raced today. Not many no-shows, though. Previous high was around 300.

Most remarkable event of the day (at least I found it so

): One of the weigh-in officials learned that if someone asks if they can take off their shorts to make weight, she needs to inquire if he has underwear on, particularly in a room full of parents watching their junior daughters race.

TomR · Post by **TomR** » January 27th, 2008, 12:07 am

Congrats Joan and Mary P.

Like clockwork.

George Dunning · Post by **George Dunning** » January 27th, 2008, 12:16 am

Joanvb wrote:snip ...
Steve Krum, 50-54, 6:20
....

Getting to be a 'challenging' age group

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » January 27th, 2008, 12:34 am

George Dunning wrote:
Joanvb wrote:snip ...
Steve Krum, 50-54, 6:20
....
Getting to be a 'challenging' age group :shock:

George,

You should have seen it at Boston in 2006. Steve was leading Jon Bone until about the last 50-100 meters. At that same event the first three finishers of the M LWT 40-49 were all in about the same second. the little boats on the screen just went out blip, blip, blip without a pause. A couple of great races.

Bob S.

Rowmaniac · Post by **Rowmaniac** » January 27th, 2008, 12:42 am

Thanks for taking the time to post the results, Joan. What a great showing from so many!

You ladies who continue to row like you are 20 years younger are a true inspiration for those of us who are getting a late start!

Impressive work, everyone!

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » January 27th, 2008, 9:20 am

Thanks for posting. It's good to hear that a record number of entries showed as well. Over on this side of the country the races are drying up from lack of competitors. Let's hope that the Long Beach event signals a turning of the tide there.

A lot fo familiar names among the qualifiers. Too bad they can't all get the free trip.

Mary P. · Post by **Mary P.** » January 27th, 2008, 11:15 am

Big congratulations to the Beach Sprints race committee, in particular John Van Blom who was moving ergs & running the races all morning, then hopped on one to win the 60 hwt race!! Congratulations to all the qualifiers (Yeaaa, Joan! another WR, too) and for those "slow" qualifiers like me, at least there's another race in San Diego in 2 weeks or there are frequent flyer miles.

Perfect cloudless blue skies, sunshine & 60 deg. and mirror-flat water for the Beach Sprints. Highest number of competitors here ever - record number of ergs spinning all over the boathouse. My son raced to a new PB (jr nov men) and husband won a close seesaw battle in the 40's hwt men in 6:28. Great day at the erg races!

John Foy · Post by **John Foy** » January 27th, 2008, 4:23 pm

Well Done all.

Go Joan - Another World Record! GO TEAM OARSOME!

kirbyt · Post by **kirbyt** » January 27th, 2008, 9:43 pm

Wow, if I ever get fast enough to think about qualifying, I'll remember not to go to Long Beach, 11 qualifiers.

It would be kind of a bummer to make the qualifying time and still not get those all important plane tickets.

Kirby

Joanvb · Post by **Joanvb** » January 28th, 2008, 12:16 am

Good point, Kirby...Wouldn't want anyone discouraged from attending the Beach Sprints in the future...While the Long Beach race has always had qualifiers, this if by far the most...We range from a high of about 6, to some years it's been just 3...
Could it be that the qualifying times are easier in some of the categories this year, and we happen to have a relatively large number of masters entries? As it turns out, many of those who qualified for Boston were either not that interested in going, had scheduling conflicts, or NCAA rules prohibition. So, most of our qualifiers didn't realize they had made the "cut" on race day. It will be interesting to see if there will be more than the usual numbers of qualifiers from other satellite races, as well.
Complete results now posted at Long Beach Rowing Association and row2K

Beach Sprints qualifiers going to Boston are: Steve Krum, Mary Perrot, Laura Erhart, and me.

Thanks for the kind and supportive posts here.

kirbyt · Post by **kirbyt** » January 29th, 2008, 12:17 am

Sorry, Joan, I'm not that discouraged. We just had one nasty blizzard where I live today. Screw the Crash-B quals., I'd like to go to your meet just for the weather.

Kirby