Three local women will be part of the U.S. dragon boat team that will compete in the 2009 World Dragon Boat Races in Prague, the Czech Republic, Aug. 27-30.

Natacha De Genna, 39, of Stanton Heights is a member of the Pittsburgh Paddlefish dragon boat team, one of two local teams. Lynne Franks-Meinert, 40, of O'Hara, and Robin Crawford Newton, 50, of Verona, are members of the other, the Steel City Dragons.

Dr. De Genna, who conducts research in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, won a spot on the Premier Women's Crew during tryouts this spring in Philadelphia. Ms. Franks-Meinert, who heads up the Steel City Dragons, will be part of the national Senior Women's Crew (age 40 and up). Ms. Crawford Newton will be part of the national Senior B Women's team (age 50 and up). She was part of the national team that competed in the 2007 world championships in Sydney, Australia.

Ms. Franks-Meinert said she was "ecstatic" to have been selected. "I'm very excited to paddle with the best paddlers in the country," she said.

"I feel very privileged to be able to paddle for the U.S.," said Ms. Crawford Newton, a registered nurse at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

"All three women have a strong desire to be world class," said their coach, Larry Wentzel. "As a result, they are."