Courtesy Williams Sports Information

RACICE, Czech Republic - Katherine Robinson (Marysville, Wash.) and the US lightweight quad saved its best race for the Finals A race at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic and powered to a silver medal, beating out two boats that had posted faster qualifying times. Robinson is a 2009 graduate of Williams and a former member of the Ephs' women's rowing team.

Germany, which also won Heat One versus the US on Thursday by a margin of 4.67 seconds, won the Finals A race and the gold medal with a time of 6:34.99, while the US finished in 6:37.04. Australia mounted a furious last 500 meters to capture the bronze medal and third place (6:37.74).

Placing fourth was the Netherlands (6:39.63), Belarus took fifth (6:45.51) and Japan finished in sixth (6:51.28).

Germany led at all of the checkpoints and the US based on Thursday’s qualifying effort surprised many by posting the second fastest time at each check point. Today the Germans’ margin of victory over the US was just 2.05 seconds. Thursday the Ephs came from a third at the first check point to overtake the Netherlands to advance directly to the Finals A race along with Germany, Australia and Japan.

The US benefitted from a strong start and a consistent effort holding off the Australians over the final furious 500-meter charge by the Aussies to capture silver. The Japanese struggled today and finished sixth in the field of six.

Eph head coach Justin Moore, currently serving as the US Junior National Women’s Team coach, commented earlier in the week on Robinson and her US boat. “This [US Lightweight Four] is a really fast boat so it would not surprise me if they get a medal, but Germany looks incredible. The [US] boat has worked really hard to prepare and they will be ready for Sunday. They will need a good start and that will help give them confidence and then it’s all about teamwork.”

Moore who will serve as the head coach of the US Junior National Eight will have his team at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France August 5th – 8th.