Rowers faster, still 6th
Tim McLaughlin - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Sports
The Iowa rowing team returned from the 2008 Big Ten championships in exactly the same boat as it did last season - sixth place.
Scoring 40 points, the Hawkeyes recorded their second sixth-place in as many years, finishing nine points ahead of last-place Indiana and 110 points behind first-place Michigan State on May 3.
The Big Ten seeded individual boats from all seven teams in the first and second varsity 8, the first and second varsity 4, and the first and second novice 8. Each race was divided into two heats and the six races took place in the morning session. The top two finishing boats from each heat advanced to the grand final, and the remaining boats competed in the petite final.
Iowa's second novice 8 boat was the lone grand final qualifier after the morning heats, with the remaining five boats failing to post fast enough times.
In the afternoon finals, the second novice 8 boat recorded the Hawkeyes' highest finish of the championships, rowing to third place behind Minnesota and Wisconsin. The first novice 8 recovered from a monotonous morning race to win the petite final in a time faster than Michigan, which came in fourth in the grand final.
The first and second varsity 4, as well as the second varsity 8, finished in last place in their respective petite finals, and the varsity 8 finished second.
Although the not-satisfied Hawkeyes didn't improve in the overall standings, they raced some faster times than last year - a big moral boost in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"Our performances were better, but our placing didn't really reflect that," said sophomore and varsity team member Annette Allard. "We got better, but so did all the other teams."
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the day was not on the water but instead on the awards stand after the racing had concluded.
Senior and team captain Brittany Keyes was selected to the All-Big Ten first team, as well as named to the list of All-Big Ten Sportsmanship Honorees, an honor given to one member of each conference crew.
"It's a great honor, and I was very excited to be awarded with it," Keyes said. "You are representing your team and the Big Ten as a whole, and I have been working hard all these four years, so I was just really excited when I received it."
Junior Kristin Kelly was selected to the All-Big Ten second team.
The Hawkeyes will continue with their training for the next two weeks as they attempt to increase speed and strength in preparation for the Central Regionals. The event marks the last chance to qualify for the NCAA championships, both as a team and as individual boats.
"If we were to go to NCAAs, it would probably be as individual boats," Keyes said.
The Central Regionals will take place May 17-18 in Oakridge, Tenn.
E-mail DI reporter Tim McLaughlin at:
timothy-mclaughlin@uiowa.edu
Scoring 40 points, the Hawkeyes recorded their second sixth-place in as many years, finishing nine points ahead of last-place Indiana and 110 points behind first-place Michigan State on May 3.
The Big Ten seeded individual boats from all seven teams in the first and second varsity 8, the first and second varsity 4, and the first and second novice 8. Each race was divided into two heats and the six races took place in the morning session. The top two finishing boats from each heat advanced to the grand final, and the remaining boats competed in the petite final.
Iowa's second novice 8 boat was the lone grand final qualifier after the morning heats, with the remaining five boats failing to post fast enough times.
In the afternoon finals, the second novice 8 boat recorded the Hawkeyes' highest finish of the championships, rowing to third place behind Minnesota and Wisconsin. The first novice 8 recovered from a monotonous morning race to win the petite final in a time faster than Michigan, which came in fourth in the grand final.
The first and second varsity 4, as well as the second varsity 8, finished in last place in their respective petite finals, and the varsity 8 finished second.
Although the not-satisfied Hawkeyes didn't improve in the overall standings, they raced some faster times than last year - a big moral boost in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"Our performances were better, but our placing didn't really reflect that," said sophomore and varsity team member Annette Allard. "We got better, but so did all the other teams."
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the day was not on the water but instead on the awards stand after the racing had concluded.
Senior and team captain Brittany Keyes was selected to the All-Big Ten first team, as well as named to the list of All-Big Ten Sportsmanship Honorees, an honor given to one member of each conference crew.
"It's a great honor, and I was very excited to be awarded with it," Keyes said. "You are representing your team and the Big Ten as a whole, and I have been working hard all these four years, so I was just really excited when I received it."
Junior Kristin Kelly was selected to the All-Big Ten second team.
The Hawkeyes will continue with their training for the next two weeks as they attempt to increase speed and strength in preparation for the Central Regionals. The event marks the last chance to qualify for the NCAA championships, both as a team and as individual boats.
"If we were to go to NCAAs, it would probably be as individual boats," Keyes said.
The Central Regionals will take place May 17-18 in Oakridge, Tenn.
E-mail DI reporter Tim McLaughlin at:
timothy-mclaughlin@uiowa.edu
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