Junior (2008-09)
Began the year rowing two-seat for the Open Four boat at the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta … Crew finished with a time of 16:32.549 to finish just two seconds out of second place … Rowed six-seat for the Varsity Eight crew at the annual Rivanna Romp hosted by the University of Virginia … Crew collected a time of 13:55.80 in order to finish ninth out of 23 participating boats … Sat three-seat for the Second Varsity Four in the event as well … Sat two-seat for the First Varsity Four for a victory (7:39.84) in a tri-race against Rochester and Dowling on the Indian Creek Waterway … Helped the `Canes to a winning time of 7:39.84 … Rowed two-seat the following day for the Varsity Eight as they collected a win over Connecticut in a dual race, posting a time of 6:50.10 … Took part in the Women’s Collegiate JV “A” competing for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy in the San Diego Crew Classic … Crew finished third in the Second Varsity Eight race with a time of 7:16.92 … Sat three-seat for the final race of the San Diego Crew Classic, helping the `Canes to finish ahead of Sacramento State with a time of 7:15.37 … Again rowed three-seat for the 2V8+ boat at the ACC Championships in Tennessee, helping the crew to a third place finishing time of 7:18.42 … Served three-seat for Miami’s JV8+ crew that secured a third place time of 6:50.0 as part of the Women’s Erickson Cascade Cup during the Opening Day Regatta hosted by the University of Washington … Helped the Varsity Eight crew to a time of 6:56.41 in their heat at the Aramark Sprints South/Central regional Championships … Rowed in the same position for the “C” finals the next day, pushing the `Canes crew across at 6:37.25.
Sophomore (2007-08)
Recipient of an All-ACC Academic Award … Rowed three seat in Varsity Eight “B” boat at the season-opening Rivanna Romp (Charlottesville, Va.) where team collected a time of 15:15.92 … Rowed two seat in her next competition against in-state foe UCF … Helped team to a gold medal time of 7:32.59 over two UCF boats … Rowed with the Varsity Four against Eastern Michigan (Apr. 6) while helping the team to a first place mark of 8:07.78 … Varsity Four boat finished fourth at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in Clemson, S.C. … Boat had a time of 7:46.5 in that race … Sat three seat against Jacksonville in a head-to-head contest where the `Canes had a boat-best time of 5:52.6 as the “A” squad in the Varsity Eight … Helped the V8 “A” boat to a first place time of 5:52.6 against Jacksonville … Also rowed in the Varsity Four “A” boat with a mark of 6:43.8 … Rowed bow for the Hurricanes in the Aramark Central/Sprint South race (May 17-18) and a first place time of 6:51.20 on the day in the Varsity Eight “C Final.”
Freshman (2006-07)
One-year letterwinner … A part of the JV 8 that beat Iowa at the 2007 Longhorn Invitational … Placed first in the JV8 petite race and fourth in the Women’s Open C at the 2007 San Diego Crew Classic … Beat Alabama in dual meet competition as a part of the JV eight team (4/28/07).
High School/Prep
Coached by Brian Dell and Mike Thompson … Named Female Rower of the Year in 2006… Placed first at Canadian Nationals in Jr. Women’s 4+ in 2003 … Won Canadian Nationals on the senior 8+ crew and placed second at Canadian Nationals in Jr. Women’s double in 2004 … Placed first at American National in 2005 and second in the 4+ at Canadian Nationals for Senior Women …Represented Denis Morris at the English Henley in 2004 in the Sr. Women’s 8+ and again in 2006 in Sr. 4+…Played volleyball and was a member of the cross-country team … Coached by Alex Wilson and Kathy Boyes for the St. Catharines Rowing Club … Finished first at Canadian Henley in 8+ for Junior Women in 2006.
Personal
Majoring in Exercise Physiology … Named to the ACC Honor Roll in 2006-2007 … Pledge of Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity-Lambda Chapter … Was a soccer player and figure skater … Has one sibling, Cameron (8) … Daughter of Paul Van Aken and Elizabeth Chayko.
At the Starting Line with Van Aken
Lists some of her hobbies as playing soccer, skating, relaxing and just hanging out with friends … First impression of Miami was that she was speechless because the campus and surroundings almost felt like a permanent vacation … Chose to attend Um because of the support system both in study hall and on the water … Worked with children that have disabilities last summer.
