Openweight Women Race at Big Ten Double Dual
April 19, 2003 | Women's Rowing
The Wisconsin women's openweights won all three novice races at the Big Ten Double Dual on Lake Phalen against Iowa and host Minnesota on Saturday.
The Badger novice eight won their race with a time of 7:00.3. Minnesota, with a 7:07.2, was second ahead of Iowa, which finished the 2000-meter course in 7:12.7.
UW boats also took the second novice eight and novice four. The Badgers beat Minnesota by nine seconds in the second novice eight and Iowa in the novice four by over 20 seconds.
"The novices carried the day today with first-place finishes in all three of their races," said head coach Maren LaLiberty. "Coach Marina Traub is doing a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere where the novices can take risks and find their potential on and off the water."
In the marquee race, the varsity eight, Iowa took the race in 6:39.0. The Gophers finished in 6:42.3 for the runner-up position, followed by the Badgers in 6:47.6.
The Badgers finished second to Iowa in both the second varsity eight and varsity four events. The Badgers' time of 6:58.0 was just under seven seconds short of Iowa in the second varsity eight, but seven seconds faster than Minnesota 's entry. The UW varsity four was edged by the Hawkeyes in the day's closest race. Iowa won in 7:27.2, followed by Wisconsin's 7:28.5 and Minnesota 's 7:32.7. Wisconsin entered a second boat in the race that finished fourth in 7:52.5
"The varsity was disappointed by the finishes," added LaLiberty. "We certainly hope to take time in the next two weeks before Big Ten Championships to improve our seed and perhaps improve our lineup."
Wisconsin makes its first and only home appearance of the season next weekend at the Midwest Rowing Championships on Lake Wingra. Racing is tentatively slated for a 6:30 a.m., start on Saturday, April 26, and continuing until 5 p.m.
