Rowing Knocks Off Two Top 20 Opponents

April 3, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -The University of Oklahoma women's rowing team completed competition at the San Diego Classic Saturday, taking third and fifth in grand final races and first and fifth in the petite final events.

"I'm extremely proud of how the team handled themselves on and off the water this weekend," Head Coach Leeanne Crain said. "They are maturing every day as a squad and the results are beginning to reflect that growth. We faced some very fast crews and despite it being only our second year fielding varsity and second varsity eights, we performed quite well. The varsity eight had a great race from start to finish and even though they were pushed by UCLA going into the final stretch, they kept their focus and fought for the lead going to the line. I'm equally proud of the varsity four, who locked up 3rd place in front of Stanford and weren't too far off USC and UCLA."

The varsity eight took first place in the petite finals of the women's collegiate varsity invitational. The Sooners finished with a time of 6 minutes, 45.600 seconds over No. 11 ranked UCLA (6:45.960), Iowa (6:46.770), San Diego (6:51.120), Oregon State (6:51.740) and Purdue (7:05.610).

Oklahoma took fifth in the second varsity eight petite final, finishing with a time of 7:06.060. The Sooners finished behind Oregon State (6:54.600, 6:58.470), Iowa (6:58.130) and Alabama (6:58.860).

OU finished third in the varsity four grand final with a time of 7:37.280. Oklahoma finished ahead of No. 4 ranked Stanford (7:38.740), Oregon State (7:47.570) and Iowa (7:59.060).

The novice eight took fifth in its grand final with a time of 7:32.370. The Sooners finished behind Washington (7:10.500), UCLA (7:13.560), Stanford (7:15.940) and Washington State (7:18.040).

"Our novice eight made a statement yesterday by advancing to the grand final," Crain said. "They gained a lot of experience this weekend which will definitely pay off in the 2nd half of the spring season."

The Sooners return to action in two weeks in Ann Arbor Mich., taking on 12th ranked Michigan and Indiana on April 16.

Varsity Lineups

Varsity Eight	Second Varsity Eight	Varsity Four
Cox: Kelsey Witten	Cox: Amanda Hoffman	Cox: Carly Schueler
Stroke: Rebecca Staff	Stroke: Ashley La Follette	Stroke: Katherine Rabe
7: Meghan Farrell	7: Katie Klassen	3: Maggie Schaefer
6: Sarah Kelle	6: Ally Gray	2: Brooke Holleman
5: Brooke Sheppard	5: Amber Coyne	Bow: Kelsey O'Grady
4:Nicole Bladow	4:Rebecca Winchester
3:Nicole Furmanek	3: Elizabeth Middleton
2: Morgan Whinery	2:Melissa Simpson
Bow: Meagan Harrell	Bow: Markayla Adam