whats a good lightweight high school sculling split.

Question
I am currently a high school 15 year old junior. I recently won a 2.3 mile (3.8k)sculling race with a time of 12 minutes which would be a 1:58 split time. Is that a good time? Last year my 2k erg time was a 7:27 but this year I am able to break 7:00 easily. Would these times be good enough to help get me into college?

Answer
Hi Harry: I attached the Junior men's results for the CRASH-B Sprints, considered the premiere event for indoor working --

http://www.crash-b.org/cb2008/results/event05-hwt.html

Assuming you are pulling a 6:55, you can see you are a bit below the average time.  But so what. the fact that you won a single scull head race is a better indicator of your rowing talent than an erg score any day in my book.  

I think too many people put too much emphasis on erg times being a predictor of rowing ability.  Yes, it has significance; but I can take a very fit bike racer or triathlete and they'll pull a great erg score.  But put them in a single scull and they'd probably flip the boat in the first ten strokes.

Everything indicates you will be a very successful rower in college if you stick with the sport.  You still have two more years to get your erg scores down.  Shoot for a goal of 6:45.  As for the sculling, be aware that college rowing is sweep-oared rowing (i.e., no sculling) only.  When you start thinking about what college you go to, look up the school's rowing web site and find the name of the coach.  Then mail or e-mail him a letter telling him about yourself, your interest to row in college, and some of your rowing accomplishments.

Good Luck/AP

Regards/AP