Oct. 31, 2009
SOUTH BEND, Ind. –
The Irish crew of coxswain Rachel Louie, Christina Buckley, Stephanie Gretsch, Carol Ann Michel and Brittany Kelly finished first among 13 boats this afternoon on the first day of racing against Iowa and Indiana. Notre Dame also had a second boat finish third in the race, giving the Irish two of the top three finishes.
Today’s first day of competition in the two-day event being held this weekend on the St. Joseph River in South Bend, Ind., saw 12 crews of fours and one novice eight boat from Notre Dame complete the course.
Making up the Notre Dame C boat, the crew of Louie, Buckley, Gretsch, Michel and Kelly finished with a time of 14:27.8, 13 seconds in front of Iowa A crew which posted a time of 14:40.8. Notre Dame D boat of coxswain Sarah Keithley, Emily Backer, Braegen Padley, Casey Robinson and Maria Lang took third in 14:43.0.
Iowa C finished fourth in 15:03.8, followed by Indiana B (15:11.0), Iowa D (15:15.5), Indiana C (15:16.1), Indiana A (15:16.6) and Iowa B (15:20.9).
The Notre Dame B and Notre Dame A crews finished 10th and 11th, respectively. Notre Dame B boat of coxswain Elizabeth Davis, Valerie Brencher, Katherine Suyo, Colleen McKenna and Ching-Ting Hwang crossed the finish line in 15:34.7, while the crew of coxswain Alicia Elliott, Morgan Kelley, Genevieve Malone Katherine Linnemanstons and Megan Keegan posted a time of 15:24.7.
Notre Dame’s novice eight boat of coxswain Kerry Casey, Maura Newell, Caityln Kalscheur, Meg Vertovec, Camille Sharrow, Sylvianne Velasquez, Madeline Andersen, Allie Hawkins and Theresa Blumenstien was 12th in 16:02.2, while Indiana D took 13th in 16:52.5.
“I was pleased with our results today,” head coach Martin Stone said. “We look forward to coming out tomorrow for another day of racing and expect several strong and competitive races.”
Racing continues tomorrow beginning at 12:10 with Notre Dame competing against Michigan State, Indiana and Iowa in six races. It will mark the last scheduled competition for the Irish in the fall.