Rowing / October 2, 2008

UM Rowing Set to Begin Year in Oklahoma City

Oct. 2, 2008

Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami rowing team added two assistant coaches and a few new student-athletes over the summer and the culmination of that should take effect on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 4-5) as the Hurricanes open the season at the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta in Oklahoma City. This year’s race serves as the fifth annual regatta hosted by Oklahoma City University at Regatta Park, in the beautiful downtown region of Oklahoma City.

UM is set to make one of eight road trips this season, with the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta hosting some very tough competition. The `Canes will race against three of last season’s Top 10 programs, including Stanford (No. 2), Harvard and Radcliffe (No. 7) and Washington State (No. 9).

“We are making the trip to Oklahoma in order to test ourselves early this season,” stated UM second-year head coach Robbie Tenenbaum. “Our team has been training hard, and I am excited to see how we are going to compete against some of the top programs in the nation.”

Others taking part in this year’s event are strong boats from the University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, the University of Tulsa and the University of Kansas.

“This event allows many of our top student-athletes the chance to race in multiple races,” expressed Tenenbaum. “It’s going to be a fun event for us.”

The Saturday head races will serve as the qualifying events for the evening night racing.

Athletes will compete in 2.5 mile “Head of the Oklahoma” head races and intense 500 meter super sprints. The OCU Head of the Oklahoma was the first regatta in the United States to feature night racing in 2006. And when the sun goes down, stadium lights will once again illuminate the river in the 500 meter OG&E Night Sprints creating an electrifying atmosphere for competitors and spectators.

“Our entire team is excited about the night races, and we know that we have to beat some quality boats if we are going to make the elite field that will qualify for the night racing,” said Tenenbaum.

Only the top 12 finishers in the Saturday Varsity Eight’s (First and Second) race will advance to the night portion of the event. And the top six finishers from the Saturday Varsity Four’s also race that evening.

“Last season we waited until mid-November to travel and compete, and I know that everyone on the trip is excited to be racing earlier this season,” stated Tenenbaum. “The team has prepared well, and I am very proud of the improvements we have made over the last few weeks.”

For more information on this year’s Head of the Oklahoma Regatta, please locate your internet browser to www.headoftheoklahoma.com. Once there, information on the student-athletes, media packets and vendor information is all easily accessible. A live fly-through of the event can be found in order to view this year’s beautifully crafted course which winds its way underneath city bridges in the heart of downtown.

Miami Boating
1V A
C: Shira Kharrazi
8: Laura Cordner
7: Marleena Eyre
6: Karalyn Van Aken
5: Nic Saner
4: Frida Schneider
3: Sarah Medland
2: Tara Eddings
1: Monika Sajincic