Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Indiana Invitational (vs. Notre Dame, Purdue, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan)
IU's Varsity 8 Leads Hoosiers at Indiana Invitational
3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 28, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - On a mild, but rainy day at Eagle Creek in Indianapolis, the Indiana rowing team was led by it's first Varsity 8 crew in a series of 2,000-meter pieces against Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame and Purdue at the Indiana Invitational on Sunday, March 28.
Through the first 250 meters of the first Varsity 8 race, the Hoosiers, made up of sophomore coxswain Alex Burkle, sophomores Shifumi Terasaka, Cara Donley and Andrea Wensits, juniors Ellie Benson and Rachel Anderson, and seniors Katie Liston, Katie Feckler and Emily Kasavana, established a lead over all of the crews. As the crew settled into their race rhythm, Purdue and Buffalo made a really aggressive push and were both able to move in front of the IU and Notre Dame varsities through the middle part of the race. However, as the crews entered the last 500 meters of the race, both IU and Notre Dame began their sprints.
In the final 250 meters, Notre Dame, who had sat three-four seats down on the IU crew the whole race, was able to push their bow in front of Indiana's for the first time and cross the finish line first, winning the race by one second with a time of 7:06.0. The Hoosiers finished in 7:07.6, beating Purdue by two seconds (7:09.8). Buffalo finished in fourth with a time of 7:16.0 and Eastern Michigan crossed the finish line in 7:45.1.
"Although we came in second, I was happy how the Varsity 8 performed again this week," said Indiana head coach Steve Peterson. "This is the second week in a row where they have really stepped up and raced stroke-for-stroke with a national caliber opponent. The big goal for this week was to improve on our start. We felt against Clemson, that was an area where we could improve upon, and with today's racing we definitely did that. The crew also did a great job of sustaining their rhythm and speed through the middle of the race."
Indiana's Novice 8 crew also placed second with a time of 8:05.5, beating Buffalo by two seconds (8:07.2). Notre Dame finished in first with a time of 7:49.9, while Purdue placed fourth (8:15.0) and Eastern Michigan finished in fourth (9:33.9). In the second Varsity 8 race, the Hoosiers finished in third with a time of 7:32.2, in front of Purdue (7:49.4) and Eastern Michigan (8:02.3). Notre Dame placed first in 7:20.7, with Buffalo coming in second in 7:21.4. The Hoosiers' first Varsity 4 crossed the finish line in 8:33.6, beating Purdue (8:55.6) and Eastern Michigan (9:13.7). The Irish used a time of 8:06.7 to finish first, with Buffalo crossing in second place in 8:22.6. In the second Varsity 4 race, IU placed fourth with a time of 9:06.4, just behind Buffalo (1st, 8:34.5), Notre Dame (2nd, 8:41.5) and Purdue (3rd, 8:50.3).
"We are very excited about the upcoming two weekends and getting to race at home," added Peterson. "This weekend's Dale England Cup regatta will provide us with three great races against quality opponents, without the extra drain of traveling. This should be a good test for all of our crews as we move into the middle part of our racing season."
The Hoosiers will play host to Boston University, Central Florida, Dayton and Miami (Fla.) in the second annual Dale England Cup on April 2-3, on Lake Lemon in Bloomington. Saturday's racing will be a tape-delay broadcast on the Big Ten Network, which will air on Sunday, April 25 at 1 p.m. ET. On Saturday, April 10, the Hoosiers will take on No. 7 Michigan State, No. 12 Ohio State and No. 15 Michigan in the Big Ten Double Duel on Lake Lemon.
Indiana Invitational Results:
First Varsity 8
1. Notre Dame, 7:06.0
2. Indiana, 7:07.6
3. Purdue, 7:09.8
4. Buffalo, 7:16.0
5. Eastern Michigan, 7:45.1
Second Varsity 8
1. Notre Dame, 7:20.7
2. Buffalo, 7:21.4
3. Indiana, 7:32.2
4. Purdue, 7:49.4
5. Eastern Michigan, 8:02.3
First Varsity 4
1. Notre Dame, 8:06.7
2. Buffalo, 8:22.6
3. Indiana, 8:33.6
4. Purdue, 8:55.6
5. Eastern Michigan, 9:13.7
Second Varsity 4
1. Buffalo, 8:34.5
2. Notre Dame, 8:41.5
3. Purdue, 8:50.3
4. Indiana, 9:06.4
First Novice 8
1. Notre Dame, 7:49.9
2. Indiana, 8:05.5
3. Buffalo, 8:07.2
4. Purdue, 8:15.0
5. Eastern Michigan, 9:33.9
Players Mentioned
