Sooners Start Strong at Head of the Oklahoma

October 01, 2016 | Rowing

By: Micah Thompson

Women's Collegiate Eight (OU and Top Five Finishers)
1.	Oregon State A	14:10.487
2.	Oklahoma A	14:14.229
3.	Tulsa A	14:15.494
4.	Oklahoma B	14:22.680
5.	UMass	14:27.529
9.	Oklahoma C	15:12.103

Women's Collegiate Four (OU and Top Five Finishes)
1.	Tulsa A	15:48.222
2.	Oklahoma B	15:53.866
3.	Oklahoma A	16:00.474
4.	Oklahoma C	16:04.215
5.	Tulsa B	16:11.413
16.	Oklahoma D	17:09.352

Women's Collegiate Novice Eight (OU and Top Five Finishes)
1.	Kansas State	15:40.823
2.	Oklahoma A	16:18.812
3.	Wichita State	17:15.561
4.	Oklahoma B	17:24.988
5.	UCO	17:29.878

Women's Collegiate Eight Night Sprints (OU and Top Five Finishes)
1.	Oregon State	1:30.237
2.	Tulsa A	1:30.921
3.	Oklahoma A	1:31.013
4.	Oklahoma B	1:33.429
5.	Tulsa B	1:38.049

OKLAHOMA CITY – The OU rowing team started the 2016-17 season on Saturday, finishing strong in all four races at the Head of the Oklahoma regatta at the Boathouse District.

The Sooners began the day with three boats racing in the women's collegiate 8+. The Oklahoma A boat crossed the line in second place with a time of 14:14.229, with Oklahoma B following behind in fourth at 14:22.680. Oklahoma C crossed the line in 15:12.103, enough for ninth place out of 20 competitors.

Four Sooner crews raced in the women's collegiate 4+, which featured 27 boats. Oklahoma B finished in second place at 15:53.866, and Oklahoma A took third with a time of 16:00.474. Fourth place went to Oklahoma C, who finished in 16:04.215. Oklahoma D came in 16th place at 17:09.352.

The OU novices competed in the first race of their careers, racing two boats in the women's collegiate novice/freshman 8+. Oklahoma A had a strong finish, taking second place at 16:18.812, and the OU B boat took fourth, crossing the line in 17:24.988.

“The team did a great job today,” OU head coach Leeanne Crain said. “It was nice to see the novices perform so well in their first race. It's a busy day with several of the varsity athletes racing four times between the head races and night sprints. It's a marathon day, but we're gaining some great competitive experience.”

The Sooners returned to the course Saturday evening for the OGE Night Sprints. Oklahoma A finished in third place of the women's collegiate 8+, crossing the finish line of the 500-meter course in 1:31.013, while Oklahoma B placed fourth with a time of 1:33.429.

The Sooners return to the course on Sunday, Oct. 23 for the Jayhawk Jamboree in Lawrence, Kan. Full results from the Head of the Oklahoma can be found at HereNow.com.

LINEUPS
Varsity Eight
C: Nicasia D'Allesandro
S: Kalie Heffernan
7: Maegan Neihart
6: Shelby Johnson
5: Andreja Kekic
4: Andrea Batchev
3: Elena Sloan
2: Taylor Spencer
B: Abby Lange