Hurricanes Take Six Races to Sweep Cincinnati

May 1, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami rowing team won six races to sweep Cincinnati Saturday on the waters of Indian Creek in Miami Beach, Fla.

In their final home and final dual race of the season, the Hurricanes won the Junior Varsity Eight, Varsity Eight, Varsity Four, Novice Eight races and finished ahead of the Bearcats in two Four races with crews made up of members from the Varsity Eight.

“Today we really preformed under tough competition. We are headed into finals and we have just come back from our most successful regatta since I have been at UM – which was BIG EAST,” head coach Debra Morgan said. “It was very hard to match the intensity – and I don’t think we were able to match the intensity – that we had at BIG EAST. It was a matter of racing well today knowing that we weren’t quite as intense due to finals and fatigue and injuries.”

Miami started a day with the Junior Varsity Eight crew of Jessica Martin (cox), Rachel Sander, Bridget Gallagher, Anna Cohen, Julie Crane, Ashley Marincsin, Jaquelene Heywood, Aoife Forde and Deirdre Curran wining with a time of 6:56.99, more than six second over Cincinnati (7:03.64).

Up next for UM was the Varsity Eight, who are currently receiving votes in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/US Rowing top-25 varsity eight poll.

Led by coxswain Laura Comeau, the Miami V8 crew of Jenny Krawec, Jacqui Julien, Sarah Conlon, Karen Wiley, Caroline Stuart, Rachel Clausing, Jordanna Heywood and Ananda Chou were able to finish ahead of UC, coming in with a time of 6:45.70.

The Hurricane Varsity Four boat of Hannah Bae (cox), Jennifer Dunning, Ashley Marincsin, Yassi Haririnia and Anna Cohen then finished by nearly a full minute ahead of Cincinnati with a time of 7:47.00.

Miami’s Novice Eight fleet of Meghan Leydecker (cox), Valerie Webb, Sarah Conlon, Natasha Lejer, Erin Morris, Laura Coltman, Noelle Van Ee, Molly Wilson and Marenda Chamberlin finished first with a time of 7:01.50.

“I think the Novice Eight had a specifically good day,” Morgan said. “They continue to develop there ability to put themselves on the line and put themselves under the stress of the 2k. I think they are getting much better and handling the stress.”

Miami, using members of the Varsity Eight boat, also placed ahead of UC in two separate Four races with an “A” crew of Comeau (cox), Krawec, Julien, Heywood and Wiley and a “B” squad ofComeau (cox), Stuart, Chou, Crane and Clausing each finishing ahead of the Bearcats.

“Today we were able to prepare for Central Sprints by keeping a racing feel and holding our speeds,” Morgan said. “If we would have gone three weeks without any competition between the BIG EAST Challenge and Central Sprints, I think we would have gotten a little flat and little bit out of touch with racing. Today allowed us to keep in touch with the 2K and the sprint competition.”

Miami returns to the water May 15-16, traveling to Oak Ridge, Tenn. for the annual Central Sprints.

Junior Varsity Eight1.Miami6:56.99 Laura Jessica Martin (cox), Rachel Sander, Bridget Gallagher, Anna Cohen, Julie Crane, Ashley Marincsin, Jaquelene Heywood, Aoife Forde, Deirdre Curran 2.CIncinnati7:03.64 Varsity Eight1.Miami6:45.70 Laura Comeau (cox), Jenny Krawec, Jacqui Julien, Sarah Conlon, Karen Wiley, Caroline Stuart, Rachel Clausing, Jordanna Heywood, Ananda Chou 2.Cincinnati6:52.20 Varsity Four1.Miami7:47.00 Hannah Bae (cox), Jennifer Dunning, Ashley Marincsin, Yassi Haririnia, Anna Cohen2.Cincinnati 8:32.60Novice Eight 1.Miami7:01.50 Hannah Meghan Leydecker (cox), Valerie Webb, Sarah Conlon, Natasha Lejer, Erin Morris, Laura Coltman, Noelle Van Ee, Molly Wilson, Marenda Chamberlin 2.Cincinnati7:21.52 Varsity Four “B” (from Varsity Eight)1.Miami7:40.37 Laura Comeau (cox), Caroline Stuart, Ananda Chou, Julie Crane, Rachel Clausing 2.Cincinnati 7:51.87Varsity Four “A” (from Varsity Eight)1.Miami7:34.52 Laura Comeau (cox), Jenny Krawec, Jacqui Julien, Jordanna Heywood, Karen Wiley 2.Cincinnati 8:01.54