Cornelia Willis to Compete at World Championship Trials

BUFFALO, NY - The 2012 Under 23 World Championship Trials will begin Tuesday, June 26 on Mercer Lake, in West Windsor, NJ, with recent UB rowing grad Cornelia Willis competing. She will be rowing in a women's lightweight quad out of GMS Rowing Center based in New Milford, CT. 

Fresh off of helping to lead her lightweight four boat to a bronze medal at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, Willis now hopes to take her skills to an international level with a chance to represent the United States. Willis was selected for her boat out of seven lightweight U23 women who were invited to the camp and will race Vesper Boat Club, with the winner representing the United States the U23 World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania July 11-15th. 

"This is huge for our program to have someone there representing the University at Buffalo," said lightweight coach Kerri Kanaley. "As Cornelia's coach, I know I speak for the entire staff when I say how proud of her we are to have made it this far, and we will definitely be rooting for GMS." 

In all, 64 crews will compete June 26-27. Full results and a live video steam are available online.