March 2, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Georgetown lightweight men's oarsman and Co-captain Mike McGrath recently finished first among college participants in the Lightweight Open Men's race of the 2007 C.R.A.S.H.-B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championships.

"It's an awesome feeling to have finally reached a goal I set for myself back in high school," McGrath said. "After coming close last year, it's just a great feeling of accomplishment.

McGrath finished in fifth place last year among collegiate rowers and that performance allowed him to be seeded in the top tier of rowers for this year's event.

"I've been going to (the Championships) since I was in high school and I knew that this year would be my last chance to win it as a collegian." McGrath's achievement is a first for Georgetown Crew.

McGrath finished with a time of 6:16.8, more than a full second ahead of his closest competitor. The race, like all the others at the event, required the competitor to row on a stationary rowing machine for the equivalent of 2,000 meters, the spring racing distance for collegiate and international racing.

"It's a unique experience, the rowing atmosphere can be intimidating," the humble McGrath said. "You look around and see the continued improvement of other rowers and then you notice it in yourself, and it's a good feeling to know that you've gotten better and the hard work has paid off."

For race results, click here.

For more information on the history of the C.R.A.S.H.-B, click here.