Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Indiana Invitational w/Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisville
IU Rowing Picks Up Wins at Indiana Invitational
3/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 25, 2012
Story by Adam Pintar
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Notre Dame proved to be the team to beat on Sunday, March 25 on Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis at the Indiana Invitational, but the Indiana first Varsity 8 outmatched their northern counterparts for the second consecutive year while also beating crews from Louisville and Purdue in their 2,000-meter race on Sunday.
The Hoosiers' first Varsity 8 crew turned in a time of 6:25.6 to edge Notre Dame (6:27.7) by more than two seconds and handled crews from Louisville (6:29.3) and Purdue (6:52.2) in similar fashion.
"Notre Dame's a great program, they're always at the top of the Big East," said Indiana head coach Steve Peterson. "The fact that we beat them last year in this race and now again here, I think it's a sign that this team has improved so much. Being able to beat them, it means a lot to me, it means a lot to the kids."
IU's second Varsity 8, however, couldn't stave off Notre Dame (6:34.7) and crossed the line second with a time of 6:42.0. Louisville finished third with 6:46.1 while Purdue finished fourth with a time of 7:13.1.
"The choppy water and the tailwind make it a little more challenging," said Peterson. "In tailwind conditions, the boat's always going to go faster so you have to be a lot cleaner and sharper with the blade work. That was kind of a big thing because I looked at some of our crews that should have done a better job rowing cleaner in the water."
Indiana's second Novice 8 followed on the heels of the first Varsity 8 winning their 2,000-meter in 7:12.6 against Louisville (7:28.9) and Purdue (7:50.0) as the first Novice 8 turned in a time of 6:51.7 behind Notre Dame (6:46.7).
Indiana's Varsity 4 boats also competed as the first four finished behind Notre Dame (7:35.2) with a time of 7:50.2) while the second four rounded out the regatta clocking a time of 8:06.5 behind Notre Dame `A' crew (7:34.7).
"We were happy with the results," said Peterson. "Notre Dame came in here with some good results the past two [regattas] so we knew they were going to be very good. Louisville is a top 20 crew or right on the bubble of that so this race is a great race for us early in the season. If we can sit there and be with them or ahead of them, it's fantastic."
The Hoosiers are docked until April 7 where they will share their home waters with conference rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin in the Big Ten Double Dual at Lake Lemon in Bloomington.
1st Novice 8
1. Notre Dame, 6:46.65
2. Indiana, 6:51.70
3. Purdue, 7:03.83
4. Louisville, 7:23.90
1st Varsity 8
1. Indiana, 6:25.60
2. Notre Dame, 6:27.70
3. Louisville, 6:29.33
4. Purdue, 6:52.23
2nd Varsity 8
1. Notre Dame, 6:34.66
2. Indiana, 6:42.00
3. Louisville, 6:46.07
4. Purdue, 7:13.14
1st Varsity 4
1. Notre Dame, 7:35.22
2. Indiana, 7:50.22
3. Louisville, 7:51.77
2nd Novice 8
1. Indiana, 7:12.63
2. Louisville, 7:28.90
3. Purdue, 7:50.09
2nd Varsity 4
1. Notre Dame A, 7:34.71
2. Indiana, 8:06.51
3. Purdue, 8:30.12
