Jayhawk Rowers Defeat K-State on Busy Day

March 9, 2013

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Rowing team opened its spring season with a full day of races at the Oklahoma Invite, rowing in 12 dual races during the day. Kansas rowed in duals versus the University of Central Oklahoma and Kansas State. The squad also rowed in various events against the University of Minnesota.

The dual against UCO started with a dominating performance by the Jayhawks in the Varsity Four event. The Kansas boat of seniors Eileen Gallagher and Emily Starr, junior Emma Umbarger, sophomore Angie Flores and sophomore coxswain Sarah Lasini rowed the 2,000 meters in 8:15.78. Kansas then won the second race of the dual by defeating the Broncos in Second Varsity Eight. The dual closed with UCO winning the Varsity Eight race.

“Good first races, but we had some jitters,” said KU head coach Rob Catloth. “We had the lead in the Varsity Eight but lost it. We got over those jitters and we rowed with more maturity and a better head on our shoulders later in the day.”

The afternoon session was delayed due to rain, but when the skies cleared the Jayhawks and Wildcats were ready to renew their rivalry. The dual started with Kansas State winning the Novice Eight race, but was quickly followed by a string of wins by the Jayhawks. KU won the Second Varsity Four, Varsity Four and the Second Varsity Eight. The dual ended with a victory for the Jayhawks in the Varsity Eight race. Rowing for KU in the Varsity Eight were seniors Olivia Kinet and Katy Evans, juniors Caity Decker, Elizabeth Scherer and Alex Torquemada and sophomores Claudijah Lever, Brooke Thuston and Jade Lambkins. The coxswain was senior Olivia Catloth.

“We did well across the board and winning the Varsity Eight versus K-State was good for our team,” said Catloth. “It had been a couple years since we beat them in that race.”

Kansas and K-State will meet again in the Sunflower Showdown on March 30 at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan.

“We definitely want to go into that rematch with a mental edge,” said Catloth. “This performance will not hurt our confidence.”

In other races, the Jayhawks fell to Minnesota in Second Varsity Four, Third Varsity Four and Second Novice Eight. Kansas finished behind Oklahoma in Second Novice Eight.

The Oklahoma Invite concludes tomorrow morning when KU races against Oklahoma.

“We are really pleased that they raced so well today and now we have to keep improving and we have a tough one tomorrow against Oklahoma,” said Catloth. “We want to continue to improve and see where we stand against one of the top team in the conference. We just want to keep building off our successes.”

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