Competition has begin in Lucerne, Switzerland, to determine final rowing qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Austin Hack of Old Lyme is the stroke of the US Men’s Eight and in their first race of the contest earlier today to determine lane placement for Tuesday’s critical final, the US team boat achieved first place.
Quoting from a press release written by Allison Müller and published by USRowing.org, “Calm, flat water welcomed crews to the Rotsee racecourse on Sunday for the first day of the 2016 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta … The U.S. men’s eight won its preliminary race for lanes, holding off a charge from Italy to cross in 5:34.26.” The US team “took the lead from Australia in the third quarter of the race. Italy sprinted from third place at the red buoys, but fell short, crossing 0.57 seconds behind the United States.”
Müller continues, ““It was good to get it going,” said Ojserkis. “The race went well, and we have some things to improve on. We’ll look to straighten them out for the final. It’s on to the next one, the one that counts.”
Australia finished third in 5:36.10, Poland fourth in 5:39.20 and Spain fifth in 5:44.80. The top two crews in Tuesday’s final earn Olympic qualification. Three rowers return from the 2015 U.S. eight including Hack, Karwoski and Dommer. Ochal and Kasprzyk return from the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.”
The other members of the US Men’s Eight crew are coxswain Sam Ojserkis (Linwood, N.J.), Glenn Ochal (Philadelphia, Pa.), Rob Munn (Redmond, Wash.),Mike DiSanto (Boston, Mass.), Steve Kasprzyk (Cinnaminson, N.J.), Alex Karwoski (Hollis, N.H.), Hans Struzyna (Kirkland, Wash.) and Sam Dommer (Folsom, Calif.).
Hack was a member of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2010 and went on to Stanford University, where he continued to excel in both academics and rowing.
Since graduating from Stanford in 2014 with a degree in political science, Hack has been training intensively with the US Rowing Training Center at Princeton in the hopes of achieving his Olympic dream.
Austin is the son of Dr. Gregory and Dr. Barbara Kelly Hack of Old Lyme, both of whom are in Lucerne to watch their son race.
For more information on Austin Hack’s extraordinary career to date, view his profile at this link.
Good luck on Tuesday, Austin! Everyone here in your hometown is rooting for you, the US Men’s Eight and the whole US team!
Very well done! Bravo to your community! Austin is a fine young man who represents your community with class. He comes from a wonderful family that gives of themselves at your local rowing club and is all in helping others learn and excel in the sport of rowing. Please continue your support of Austin, the US team and the Hack family as they help local rowers! Congrats and good luck in Rio Austin!!