Hurricanes Advance to Finals at FIRA State Rowing Championships
April 7, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami rowing squad opened up the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) State Championships Friday afternoon at the Krome Avenue Quarry by advancing its Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 boats to Saturday’s championship race.
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Battling deceptively strong head and cross winds, the Hurricanes posted the fastest time of the day in the Varsity 8, winning their heat in a time of 7:30.6. Despite the conditions, Miami’s boat of Laura Comeau (Cox), Sarah Conlon, Emy Huntsman, Natasha Lejer, Laura Coltman, Laura Cordner, Rachel Clausing, Bethany Krawec and Kelly Amsler took an open water lead to beat out crews from Jacksonville, Barry and Florida.
With the top three boats from the two heats advancing to Saturday’s 9:15 a.m. finals, Miami will face crews from UCF, Nova Southeastern, Florida Tech, Barry and Jacksonville.
“I think we handled the conditions well,” said head coach Debra Morgan. “We’re in a good position for tomorrow. The team is geared up for a tough race against UCF. It’ll be a close race but we’ll be in a good position to win if we do what we need to do.”
Conlon, a junior, is excited to face in-state rival UCF in the championship race. “It’ll be exciting to race them,” she said. “We haven’t seen them race all season. They are great competitors. We’ve both raced different schools so it will be a good cross comparison to see how we do against them.”
The women’s Varsity 4 likewise advanced to Saturday’s championship race slated for 3:00 p.m. UM’s crew of Meghan Leydecker (Cox), Taurii Coyne, Julianne Parker, Mackenzie Dove and Marenda Chamberlin finished 5.86 seconds behind Florida Tech who came in first in the heat.
Miami’s Novice/Freshman 4 boat of Marcy Gunning (Cox), Olivia Arkell, Grayce Palmer, Jessica Cruz and Diana Francisco finished fourth in its heat with a time of 9:59.32
Competition resumes Saturday beginning at 8:45 a.m. and running through 3:00 p.m. For directions to the Krome Avenue Quarry, log onto www.hurricanesports.com.
FIRA State Championships – UM’s Saturday Race Schedule
Varsity 8 – 9:15 a.m.
JV 8 – 9:45 a.m.
Novice/Freshman 8 – 11:15 a.m.
Novice 4 – 2 p.m.
Varsity 4 – 3 p.m.
FIRA State Championships – Day One Results
April 7, 2006
Krome Avenue Quarry; Miami, Fla.
Varsity 8
Heat 2
1. Miami 7:30.6
Laura Comeau (Cox), Sarah Conlon, Emy Huntsman, Natasha Lejer, Laura Coltman, Laura Cordner, Rachel Clausing, Bethany Krawec and Kelly Amsler).
2. Barry 8:06.5
3. Jacksonville 8:15.0
4. Florida 8:36.5
Heat 1
1. UCF 7:41.5
2. Nova 8:00.4
3. Florida Tech 8:19.9
4. ERAU 9:56.2
