Hurricanes Novice Four Tabbed ACC Crew of the Week

April 17, 2006

CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– The University of Miami’s rowing team’s Novice Four crew was tabbed the Atlantic Coast Conference Crew of the Week after winning the Grand Final at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships last weekend in Oak Ridge, Tenn. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

UM’s Novice Four crew of Marcy Gunning (Cox), Megan Hudson, Justine Lewis, Olivia Arkell-Charbonneau and Anika Arevalo won both its quarterfinal and semifinal heats en route to the Grand Final win on Saturday.

In Friday’s qualifying heat, the Hurricanes won their heat in remarkable fashion by turning in a time of 8:28.6 with nearly eight boat lengths of open water ahead of second place finisher Stetson who turned in a time of 8:51.7.

Miami then advanced to the Grand Final by turning in the fastest novice time of the day, 8:00.1, to win its semifinal heat by two boat lengths ahead of the University of Georgia who clocked in at 8:10.20.

Miami turned up the intensity in the Grand Final, racing to an 8:09.5 finish, more than nine seconds faster than second-place MurrayState (8:18.21). Georgia, Kansas, Jacksonville and Louisville rounded out the field.

The Hurricanes return to action Saturday, April 22 when they travel to Clemson, S.C. for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.