Miami's Novice 4 Wins Grand Final at SIRA Championships
April 15, 2006
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>OAK RIDGE, Tenn.– The University of Miami’s Novice Four won the Grand Final of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships on Milton Hill Lake Saturday afternoon. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Miami’s Novice Four crew of Marcy Gunning (Cox), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau, and Anika Arevalo won in dominating fashion, crossing the finish line with a boat length of open water and a time of 8:09.5. Second place finisher Murray State came in nearly nine seconds behind Miami in a time of 8:18.21 while the University of Georgia rounded out the top three with a time of 8:24.2.
“I’m thrilled with the result,” said novice coach Andrea Saathoff. “They gained valuable confidence after each race and set a high standard for the rest of the season.”
Sophomore Megan Hudson said, “We learned that we could row at a higher level. We pushed harder than we ever have. We have fought through a lot of adversity this season but really came together as a team this weekend.”
Earlier in the day, the Novice Four won its 7:37 a.m. heat. Two boat lengths of open water separated the Miami crew from Georgia–its closest competitor in the heat. The Hurricanes’ four posted the fastest novice time of the day to qualify for the Grand Final.
The Junior Varsity 8 likewise competed in the Grand Final finishing third behind Louisville and Kansas State in a time of 7:07.37. Miami came in ahead of Sacramento State, Cincinnati and North Carolina. UM’s JV8 qualified for the Grand Final by finishing second in its heat during the morning session.
“We had a good race and were aggressive,” said JV8 coxswain Megan Leydecker, a junior. “This was a good learning experience for ACC Championships next week.”
The Varsity Four finished fifth in the Grand Final of the event in a time of 8:17.81. William and Mary won the event while Kansas State and Nova Southeastern rounded out the top three finishers. The Hurricanes won its heat in the morning, posting the third fastest qualifying time to advance to the Grand Final.
The headlining women’s event–the Varsity Eight–was the Hurricanes’ final race of the day. Eventual winner Louisville pulled ahead early leaving Miami and Sacramento State to fight for second. Sacramento State held of Miami, finishing second in a time of 6:55.2 two seconds ahead of the Hurricanes who turned in a time of 6:57.2. UM finished ahead of crews from Kansas State, Kansas and North Carolina.
Freshman Kelly Amsler was pleased that they were able to perform well despite racing with a new lineup. “We had a new lineup and were able to do a lot more that we had been able to do before, ” she said. “Our intensity was up but we just couldn’t hold off the fast crews.”
The Hurricanes qualified for the Grand Final by winning heat two of the morning’s semi-final heats over second and third qualifiers Kansas and UNC. Miami posted the second fastest qualifying time behind Louisville who raced in heat one.
“Both eights rowed really well today but just couldn’t find enough speed, ” said head coach Debra Morgan. “Kansas State and Sacramento State in the JV8 and Varsity 8, respectively, we able to come up with something extra. We rowed strong just not quite strong enough.”
The Hurricanes return to action Saturday, April 22 when they travel to Clemson, S.C. for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.
SIRA Championships – Day Two
April 15, 2006
MiltonHillLake – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Novice 4
(GRAND FINAL)
Miami – 8:09.5
(Marcy Gunning (cox), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau, Anika Arevalo)
Murray State – 8:18.21
Georgia – 8:24.2
Kansas – 8:25.25
Jacksonville – 8:26.04
Louisville – 8:38.92
Novice 4
(7:37 a.m. Semifinal Heat )
Miami – 8:00.1
(Marcy Gunning (cox), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau, Anika Arevalo)
Georgia – 8:10.20
Georgia State – 8:11.90
Tulsa – 8:24.50
Tulane – 8:51.30
JV 8
(GRAND FINAL)
Louisville – 6:58.1
Kansas State – 7:03.99
Miami – 7:07.37
(Meghan Leydecker (cox), Molly Wilson, Jaquelene Heywood, Marleena Eyre, Sarah Stocks, Rachael Sporko, Sarah Greyer, Valerie Webb, Meghan White)
Sacramento State – 7:09.68
Cincinnati – 7:17.15
North Carolina – 7:18.31
JV 8
(9:01 a.m. Qualifying Heat)
Louisville – 6:57.46
Miami – 7:03.54
(Meghan Leydecker (cox), Molly Wilson, Jaquelene Heywood, Marleena Eyre, Sarah Stocks, Rachael Sporko, Sarah Greyer, Valerie Webb, Meghan White)
Kansas State – 7:07.02
Tulsa – 7:21.18
Grand Valley State – 7:46.15
Washington University – 8:00.55
Varsity 4
(GRAND FINAL)
William & Mary – 8:02.3
Kansas State – 8:04.77
Nova Southeastern – 8:05.79
Murray State – 8:07.89
Miami – 8:17.81
(Jessica Martin (cox), Taurii Coyne, Julianne Parker, Mackenzie Dove, Marenda Chamberlin)
Wake Forest – 8:45.4
Varsity 4
(9:44 a.m. Semifinal Heat)
Miami – 8:15.35
(Jessica Martin (cox), Taurii Coyne, Julianne Parker, Mackenzie Dove, Marenda Chamberlin)
William & Mary – 7:59.27
Kansas State – 8:01.55
Georgia Tech – 8:10.25
Northwestern State – 8:12.39
Cincinnati – 8:12.87
Varsity 8
(GRAND FINAL)
Louisville – 6:50.7
Sacramento State – 6:55.2
Miami – 6:57.2
(Laura Comeau (cox), Sarah Conlon, Kelly Amsler, Laura Cordner, Laura Coltman, Natasha Lejer, Emy Huntsman, Beth Krawec, Rachel Clausing)
Kansas State – 7:03
Kansas – 7:03.18
North Carolina – 7:10.83
Varsity 8
(11:01 a.m. Qualifying Heat 2)
Miami – 6:57.85
(Laura Comeau (cox), Sarah Conlon, Kelly Amsler, Laura Cordner, Laura Coltman, Natasha Lejer, Emy Huntsman, Beth Krawec, Rachel Clausing)
Kansas – 7:02.44
UNC – 7:05.12
Heat 1
Louisville – 6:52.3
Sacramento State – 6:58.67
Kansas State – 7:00.15
