KU Hosts Sunflower Showdown in Rowing on Saturday
March 28, 2013
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas and Kansas State will renew their rivalry on the water on Saturday in the women’s rowing edition of The Sunflower Showdown. The competition begins at 10 a.m. at the Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan. KU and K-State met earlier this year at the Oklahoma Invite with the Jayhawks winning four out of the five races. The Wildcats swept last season’s Sunflower Showdown winning all five races.
“When you race against your in-state rival the ante is upped,” said KU head coach Rob Catloth. “We are going to continue to look for improvement over how we raced two weeks ago and we need to continue to gain boat speed.”
A strong boat for the Jayhawks so far this year has been the Varsity Four. The boat has won four races and its only loss came against Duke.
Following the competition, Kansas rowing will name two boats in recognition of accomplished Kansas women. Kansas rowing will also recognize the 10 seniors on the squad as part of Senior Day activities.
RACE SCHEDULE
10:00 AM NOVICE FOUR
10:15 AM NOVICE EIGHT
10:30 AM VARSITY FOUR
10:45 AM SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
11:00 AM FIRST VARSITY EIGHT
FOLLOW THE HAWKS
Results will be posted on Twitter ku_rowing with full coverage at KUAthletics.com following the competition.
DIRECTIONS TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY LAKE
To get to the viewing area from Interstate 70, take I-435 North to Exit 18 (Wolcott Dr.), turn right and follow 93rd Street to the beach shelter at the lake. Parking is $5.
JAYHAWKS FOR A CURE
Admission to the Sunflower Showdown is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit Jayhawks for a Cure with proceeds going to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Kansas Athletics will also be doing giveaways associated with Jayhawks for a Cure.
BOAT NAMING CEREMONY
Kansas rowing is currently starting a theme of naming boats after accomplished Kansas women. The two boats that will be dedicated on Saturday are named “Amelia” for Amelia Earhart and “Mawson’s Mission” in recognition of Marlene Mawson.
Previous boat naming themes include: KU (Oread, Jayhawk, Rock Chalk), State of Kansas (Meadowlark, Sunflower), Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow, Ruby Slipper) and Lawrence Native Americans (Wakarusa, Kanza). The last boat dedicated at KU was Jayhawk Nation, which was named in 2009 after the completion of the Kansas Boathouse. Jayhawk Nation is named after the student body as KU students voted to pass funding for the six million dollar boathouse in 2005.
SENIOR DAY
Following the competition, KU will recognize seniors Danielle Adam, Olivia Catloth, Kay Evans, Eileen Gallagher, Olivia Kinet, Katy MacCormack, Ashlyn Midyett, Emily Starr, Cheyenne Verdoorn and Amber Malone.
“This has been an enjoyable senior class to work with,” said Catloth. “They are hardworking women and have done a great job building a hardworking, winning attitude for the program.”
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