Rowing: Rowing Begins Fall Season
October 08, 2007 11:48 AM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
October 8, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rowing team competed in the Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The race was held on a 2.6 mile course on the Allegheny River.
In the open 4+ race, WVU A team finished in third place with a time of 17:28.5. The Bronze medal line-up consisted of bow to stern: Brittany Brooks, Megan Bush, Kim Benda, Caroline Rettig with coxswain Stephanie Brown. The B team followed in 13th place with a time of 19:15.3.
“A slight headwind was present throughout the day resulting in longer race times than might otherwise be expected,” says Head Coach Jimmy King. “Both crews in the Open 4+ felt they started their races solidly, but as they tired in the last quarter, their technique faltered a bit.”
In the open 8+ race, the Mountaineers finished in seventh place with a time of 16:34.0.
“The fall races are part of the training process rather than a focus of the training. Given that the team is so young, we've focused on general conditioning and rowing technique to this point,” says King. “As our training progresses through its normal course, the crews will begin to get stronger on the water in addition to the general fitness they continue to develop. The natural result will be that they feel better prepared for their next head race.”
The Mountaineers next meet with be on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Head of the Occoquan in Fairfax, Va.
