Hurricanes Finish Second at 2004 BIG EAST Rowing Challenge

April 25, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Highlighted by second place finishes by the varsity four and novice eight crews, the University of Miami rowing team placed second overall at the fourth annual BIG EAST Challenge Sunday afternoon on the waters of Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

Head coach Debra Morgan’s Hurricanes concluded the day with 92 total points – 24 points behind first place Notre Dame (116), who won four of five races to claim their first BIG EAST Challenge title – to earn their highest team finish in the conference competition.

Miami had finished sixth in each of the three previous BIG EAST Rowing Challenges dating back to the 2001 season.

“We had a phenomenal day with some really good racing,” Morgan said. “We haven’t beaten teams like Rutgers and Boston College in the three seasons I’ve been here, and even a couple of years prior to that so for us to come out and finish second overall today was a major accomplishment.”

UM’s varsity eight crew of Laura Comeau (Cox), Karen Wiley, Jenny Krawec, Jacqui Julien, Sarah Conlon, Rachel Clausing, Caroline Stuart, Ananda Chou and Jordanna Heywood finished third in the Grand Finals with a time of 7:01.95 behind second place Syracuse (7:00.43) and first place Notre Dame (6:54.89).

“Syracuse is one of the best teams in the nation, so for our varsity eight us to finish just a little over a second behind them speaks volumes for our team,” Morgan said.

The Hurricanes’ novice eight squad of Meghan Leydecker (Cox), Valerie Webb, Ashley Via, Natasha Lejer, Erin Morris, Sarah Stocks, Noelle Van Ee, Molly Wilson and Marenda Chamberlin placed second in the N8 finals with a time of 7:24.12.

Coming in third with a time of 7:13.73, the UM crew of Jessica Martin (Cox), Rachel Sander, Bridget Gallagher, Anna Cohen, Julie Crane, Ashley Marincsin, Jaquelene Heywood, Aoife Forde and Deirdre Curran finished behind second place Georgetown in the Grand Finals of the junior varsity eight.

Miami’s varsity four boat of Hannah Bae (Cox), Jennifer Dunning, Laura Coltman, Taurii Coyne and Yassi Haririnia turned in a time of 7:47.76 to place second behind Notre Dame (7:36.66).

“Our junior varsity eight beat a good Syracuse team and I was very proud of what our varsity four and novice eight were able to accomplish today,” Morgan said.

The Hurricanes will return to action May 1 in their final dual race of the season, hosting Cincinnati at Miami Beach before heading to the Central Sprints May 15-16 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Overall Team Standings 1.Notre Dame116 2.Miami92 3.Syracuse82 4.Rutgers74 5.Georgetown73 6.Boston College70 7.Connecticut46 8.Villanova40 9.West Virginia31 Varsity Eight Finals1.Notre Dame6:54.89 2.Syracuse7:00.43 3.Miami7:01.95 Laura Comeau (Cox), Karen Wiley, Jenny Krawec, Jacqui Julien, Sarah Conlon, Rachel Clausing, Caroline Stuart, Ananda Chou, Jordanna Heywood 4.Boston College7:04.13 5.Rutgers7:04.25 6.Villanova7:04.29 Novice Eight Finals1.Georgetown7:18.82 2.Miami7:24.12 Meghan Leydecker (Cox), Valerie Webb, Ashley Via, Natasha Lejer, Erin Morris, Sarah Stocks, Noelle Van Ee, Molly Wilson, Marenda Chamberlin3.Notre Dame7:26.81 4.Boston College7:26.86 5.Rutgers7:29.886.Connecticut7:55.95 Junior Varsity Eight Finals1.Notre Dame7:09.17 2.Georgetown7:12.21 3.Miami 7:13.37 Jessica Martin (Cox), Rachel Sander, Bridget Gallagher, Anna Cohen, Julie Crane, Ashley Marincsin, Jaquelene Heywood, Aoife Forde, Deirdre Curran4.Syracuse7:13:51 5.Rutgers7:19.23 6.Boston College7:33.27 Varsity Four Finals1.Notre Dame7:36.66 2.Miami7:47.76 Hannah Bae (Cox), Jennifer Dunning, Laura Coltman, Taurii Coyne, Yassi Haririnia3.Syracuse7:54.07 4.Rutgers7:59.55 5.Connecticut7:59.70 6.Georgetown 8:13.64