Miami Novice 4 Posts Second Fastest Time of the Day at SIRA Championships
April 14, 2006
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>OAK RIDGE, Tenn.– Day one of racing at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships began with uncertainty for the Hurricanes but ended with both fours qualifying for the semifinals Friday afternoon at Milton Hill Lake. Miami will now see full team action with the Novice 4, Varsity 4, JV 8 and Varsity 8 all racing on the final day of competition at SIRAs on Saturday, April 14. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The new Novice four lineup of Marcy Gunning (coxswain), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau, and Anika Arevalo is getting its first racing experience together this weekend.
“I think we’re a strong boat but inexperienced together, anything could happen,” said Novice four coach Andrea Saathoff.
The Hurricanes, racing in lane four, quickly eased Saathoff’s nerves by winning their heat in remarkable fashion posting the second fastest novice time of the day, 8:28.60. The calm water proved to be beneficial for the Hurricanes after racing in windy and choppy conditions last weekend and during practice all last week. Miami welcomed the opportunity to row on flat water and took advantage. The race was never in question; the Hurricanes won by eight boat lengths of open water.
“I am very pleased with the result, we not only dominated our heat, but we rowed well. We showed that there is great potential for tomorrow’s semis,” said a relaxed Saathoff after the race.
The Novice crew will race again at 7:37 a.m. in Saturday’s semifinals where the top two teams in its heat qualify for the grand final. Miami will face Tulane, Georgia State University, Tulsa and the University of Georgia.
Miami’s Varsity 4 also raced and qualified for the semifinals by finishing second in its heat behind Murray State.
Senior coxswain Jessica Martin seems confident for the rest of the weekend’s races, “we rowed well and I know that we can row harder.”
The four posted the fourth fastest time of the day behind Murray State and William & Mary who posted identical times of 8:09, and were a little over a second behind Kansas State and a fraction of a second behind Wake Forest.
The Hurricanes JV 8 will see its first action in a qualifying heat at 9:01 a.m. on Saturday and the Varsity 8 will race at 11:01 a.m. Both teams must finish in the top three of their respective heats in order to qualify for the Grand Final to be held later in the day.
For complete results from the SIRA Championships stay tuned to www.hurricansports.com.
SIRA Championships – Day One
April 14, 2006
MiltonHillLake – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Novice 4 Qualifying Heat
Miami – 8:28.6
(Marcy Gunning (cox), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau, Anika Arevalo)
Stetson – 8:51.7
Grand Valley State – 8:59.7
Davidson – 9:38.1
Vanderbilt – 10:19.6
Varsity 4 Qualifying Heat
Murray State – 8:09.0
Miami – 8:15.35
(Jessica Martin (cox), Taurii Coyne, Julianne Parker, Mackenzie Dove, Marenda Chamberlin)
West Virginia – 8:24.45
Barry – 8:25.45
Auburn – 8:46.54
Georgia – 8:55.01
