Rowing: First Regatta a Success
October 04, 2003 04:46 PM | General
October 4, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University crew team successfully hosted, and competed in, its first regatta of the fall season, the Head of the Mon, on Saturday, Oct. 4.
"Overall, despite the weather, the first annual Head of the Mon Regatta was a great success," said head coach Nancy LaRocque.
In the morning's first race on the 3.4 mile course, the Varsity 8, WVU's A team (Michelle Heier, Donna Stullken, Meg Ayers, Kendra Hamilton, Amelia Payne, Kirsten Leslie, Gaetane De La Bourdonnaye, Caitlin Everett and Jess Martini) finished with a time of 20:51.44 which was good enough for a sixth place finish.
"We are looking forward to the eight racing well in Boston in two weeks," said LaRocque.
The Mountaineers B boat had a problem towards the end of the race and finished the course in 22:27.80, placing them in 15th. Virginia's A boat took first in the race with a time of 19:38.46.
In the Novice 8 competition the Mountaineers B team grabbed sixth place with a time of 28:05.95 while the A team took seventh at 28:39.36. Clemson's A boat rowed to a time of 21:20.47 which gave them first in the event.
"The novices have only been on the water for about three weeks to date, so we were proud that they made it down the course not too far behind other teams that row recruited freshman in those events," said LaRocque.
UVA's B boat would prove the fastest in the Varsity 4, finishing in 22:03.16. WVU's A boat finished 14th in the race with a time of 23:36.87, while the B boat took 18th place.
High winds and hard rain deterred all but three teams in the Novice 4 race. Clemson won with a time of 23:07.45 and the Mountaineers placed third in 32:45.55.
In the final race of the afternoon, the Varsity 2, Duke's A team (24:12.43) clipped Lousiville's A squad by two seconds for the win. WVU took fourth in the race with a time of 25:07.31.
"As a whole I was pleased with the results of our racing today," said LaRocque.
Complete race results can be found at row2k.com.
The Mountaineers hit the water again in competition on Oct. 18, when they travel to Boston for the Head of the Charles. Competition will last all day.
