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Women's Rowers Slug It Out in San Diego
April 3, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The Saint Joseph's women's Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 crews travelled to San Diego to compete in the Crew Classic, putting forth impressive races in the two day event. The Varsity 8 captured a bronze medal, while the 2V8 finished thrird in the petite final. The Varsity 8 of coxswain Kate Parry, 8-Brianna Kearns, 7-Amanda Holland, 6-Jenn Linck, 5-Meg Henry, 4-Liz Sauter, 3-Kaitie Reehill, 2-Lauren Sysol and 1-Debbie Bateman was the first Varsity 8 in SJU history to make the grand final at the Crew Classic. The Hawks advanced through the heat finishing 2nd to Miami and passing through St. Mary's in the final 500m to secure a lane in the final. It was a great finish, with the Hawks displaying the fastest last 500 time of all the heats. In the grand final, SJU looked across the lanes to see a tough final, featuring UC-Davis, Kansas State, Miami, Navy and Sacramento State. Knowing the other crews had strong second 500 times, the Hawks went out to secure a lead in the second 500. "Watching the race on the Jumbotron - the far lanes were getting tossed around like corks in the first 500m - but we stayed within striking distance and slugged it out," stated head coach Gerry Quinlan. Through the first 500 meters SJU was in 6th place, but the boat made up six to seven seconds on the majority of the field passing the 1000m mark in second place. Kansas State and Sacramento State made big pushes in the final strokes. The Hawks held off SS finishing third behind Miami and K-State. "This was a fantastic weekend for the both the V8 and 2V8. We showed a lot grit and character - we were able to come from behind and hold leads and kept ourselves in a position to win during the entire races. These are great characteristics of racers in such an early season race," stated Quinlan. The Second Varsity 8 of c-Jamie Speranzo, 8-Maureen Owston, 7-Caitlin Twaddell, 6-Jess Barsky, 5-Kelly McKinley, 4-Lindsay Thompson, 3-Alicia
Easby-Smith, 2-Meg Stanton, 1-Kaitlin Weston advanced from a very
difficult heat to the third final. The final quickly turned into a three boat race between SJU, Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount. In the end the Hawks held onto a 3rd place, ahead of San Diego and UC Davis.
WOMEN'S CAL CUP Grand Final 1-Miami 7:05.3 2-Kansas St 7:08.58 3-Saint Joseph's 7:10.87 4-Sac State 7:12.12 5-Navy 7:14.68 6-UC Davis 7:17.61
WOMEN's JV 8 |
