Courtesy Williams Sports Information

BRIVE-LA-GAILLAIRDE, France – Williams College women’s crew head coach Justin Moore guided the US 8+ women to the gold medal in an impressive open water victory at the World Rowing Junior Championships on Saturday.

Under ideal water conditions and a warm day the US turned up the heat from the start and was second to New Zealand at the end of the first 500m – New Zealand (1:32.89); US 1:33.16.

At 1000m 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.

"The race unfolded exactly as I hoped it would," commented Moore. "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.

"When I saw that we came through the first 500m 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."

Over the final 500m the impressive raw power of the US boat that Moore noted in the training sessions sent the US 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 in August 2010 (14-26).