Westborough High Junior Sarah Hart Qualifies for Rowing Nationals
Having faced the challenge of cartilage operations on both knees and living in a town with no affiliation to the sport, Westborough HS junior Sarah Hart is heading to Cincinnati OH to compete in the US Rowing Youth Nationals in early June. Sarah Hart is a member of the highly successful Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) competitive youth squad, currently holding a seat in their girls’ top Varsity 8 boat which medaled silver at the May regional heats held recently on the Merrimack River in Lowell.
Alongside her commitment to school activities, including playing/singing in Band and Chorus and also being treasurer of the Model United Nations club, Hart travels six days a week after school into Brighton, MA to train and practice on the Charles - requiring her to dedicate considerable time and energy to a sport she was first introduced to at the home of rowing, Henley on Thames in the UK. "I'd suffered a torn meniscus in my right knee" said Hart "and I needed a sport where I could regain the strength in my leg without making things worse. I was lucky that Debbie Flood - herself a GB Olympic medalist in the sport - was a member of our then local Church and introduced me to rowing. The initial development I received has proved tremendously important in ensuring not just my fitness but also technique in a sport that requires both intense power and stamina".
Two years ago, having moved to the US in 2006, Sarah suffered a further setback when she required a similar operation on her other knee and it was only in the fall of last year that she really got into competitive rowing through CRI. "I truly did not believe I could or would have advanced so far in such a short time. With crew, I constantly have to challenge myself to get past that point of feeling like I can’t do it anymore. But then I pull harder and (hopefully) we go faster,” Hart said.
As a club, CRI qualified ten boats overall for nationals but not all of them are looking to medal. "For instance, our boat is in transition, losing some seniors to other commitments. It may not be reasonable to expect a top three finish at national level", said Hart "but the opportunity to bring in fresh faces from the boats below and to develop a team for the future - which will include getting ready to compete in the famous Head of the Charles race in the Fall - is one of the things I relish about being part of the squad. We will certainly be going for it, taking part is a tremendous honor and will undoubtedly be a great experience".
The Youth Nationals take place 10 - 13 June, followed by US Club Nationals in TN in mid-July.
Any Westborough student interested in taking up rowing as a sport is welcome to contact Hart at hart.westborough@charter.net.
A final word from Sarah Hart. "In recent times CRI has twice been voted rowing Club of the Year and has some great programs, none more so than those for a growing group of novices. I'd be happy to introduce anyone to the sport and who knows, maybe one day we could get enough interest locally to put the town of Westborough on the rowing map. Why not go for it?"
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