Hurricanes Perform Well at Opening Day Regatta
May 2, 2009
Complete Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta Results in PDF Format 
Seattle, Wash. – The University of Miami Hurricanes rowing squad collected second and third place finishes Saturday, May 2 in front of more than 50,000 spectators and 500 competitors as part of the Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta hosted by the University of Washington in Seattle.
A near-record crowd was on hand this year at the Montlake Cut, while the Hurricanes were one of six collegiate teams, along with numerous high school, professional boaters and national crews to open up the 2009 boating season.
“We definitely enjoyed being a part of this event, and it was just an amazing feeling being here,” stated UM interim head coach Boban Rankovic. “There were spectators along the sides of the course the entire way–from start to finish. Yachts and boats and fans were supportive the entire way.”
The `Canes took part in two races Saturday as part of the Windermere Cup and Women’s Erickson Cascade Cup.
The Miami JV8+ rowed their way to a third place time of 6:50.0 as part of the Women’s Erickson Cascade Cup. UM rowed the team of Lizzy Elner (bow), Alexa McCanick (2), Karalyn Van Aken (3), Nic Saner (4), Isabelle Prosser (5), Molly Thornton (6), Kate Rickers (7), Stephanie Parrish (stroke) and Christina Crocco (coxswain).
“This race, the whole community is involved with television reporters, news media, radio–you name it, they were here,” stated Rankovic, whose team is making their second trip in just over a month to the west coast for an event. “The spectators are literally 10 feet away from you in their boats or yachts, and everyone gets pumped as they cheer for you the last stretch of the way.”
The Hurricanes departed the line at 00:40.28.3, crossing the line at 0:47:18.3, trailing the University of British Columbia by an 11-second split count along the way. The University of Washington took the top time in the race, turning in a blistering time of 6:24.5. UBC finished second, crossing at 5:59.0.
“The last 500 meters or so, the crews dip into a little cut, and the noise from the crowd just gets intense,” added Rankovic. “The girls were extremely pumped up, and we could hear the crowd almost like a giant rumble. It can only be described as a scene we [Miami] would have at our home football games. This is like their home football opener, or at least very similar, for the boating season, which is huge in the Washington area.”
In the Varsity Eight action, Miami rowed the team of Emily Wingrove (bow), Marleena Eyre (2), Frida Schneider (3), Sarah Medland (4), Monika Sajincic (5), Rachael Sporko (6), Laura Cordner (7), Camilla Espana (stroke) and coxswain Shira Kharrazi.
That squad helped the `Canes collect a second place time of 6:46.1 in the Women’s Windermere Cup race, finishing nearly eight seconds ahead of the Brazilian National Team (6:54.0). Washington finished atop the race pack with a mark of 6:29.4, while Miami led the Brazilian National Team by more than eight seconds at almost every split.
UM departed the start line at 0:55:10.2, and crossed exactly at 1:01:56.3 to end the race.
“Our crews were great today, and the coaches and I are proud of them,” said Rankovic. “We raced against some top competitors because Washington and Brazil have very good crews, and we did well against them. We’re really pleased that we’re gaining speed in our 1V8+ and JV8+ boat, and we see that speed increasing each time they go out on the water. The girls are excited about their finishes today, and they’re happy with the overall experience of being here in this remarkable event.”
The next scheduled event for the Hurricanes will take place on May 22-23 as part of the South/Central Regional Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The `Canes also raced at Oak Ridge during the ACC Championships where they turned in a third place performance, tying their highest overall finish in the annual event.
The Opening Day regatta has been a part of the opening day of boating season since 1970. In 1987, the race’s sponsorship by Windermere Real Estate, Inc. started the Windermere Cup Regatta. Since 1987, teams from China, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and the Czech Republic, among others, have come to race against the men’s and women’s rowing teams from the University of Washington on the Montlake Cut.
For more information on University of Miami rowing, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com.
