III Eight Boat Earns First, I Eight Finishes Second at Minnesota Invite

Saturday, May 2

St. Paul, Min.

8 a.m. CT

University of Kansas

Minnesota Invite

III Eight Boat Earns First, I Eight Finishes Second at Minnesota Invite

5/2/2026 8:19:00 PM | Women's Rowing

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Kansas rowing completed the Minnesota Invite against tough, Big 10 opponents, highlighted by a first place finish for the III Eight crew and a second place standing by the I Eight boat.

As we continue to grow race after race, we still have some ups and downs in terms of showing up and racing at the level we know we are capable of, head rowing coach Andrew Derrick said. However, the good showings are getting more frequent and faster with fewer missed opportunities and ultimately, that is progress and growth. Growth is uncomfortable and hard, and the coaches and I are very proud of the job the team continues to do as we seek a higher standard for ourselves. We have two weeks to find any speed we want to take into conference, and I'm confident this group can rise to the challenge.

Starting the regatta off strong with a first place showing was the I Eight boat (junior coxswain Ruby Moritz-Cammack, freshmen Katariina Peipman and Claire Van Mater, sophomore Kaylie Hellner, juniors Sophie Pense and Gracie Shepherd, along with seniors Kara Lyons, Lindsey True, and Aylin Schafer) in their first race of the day, crossing the finish line at 6:25.1 to beat out Wisconsin in Heat 2.

The Jayhawks would go on to the place second behind Wisconsin in the II Eight (sophomore coxswain Kyra Kavouridis, freshman Kenzington Rector, juniors Tya Drennen, Gretchen Schmeirer-Knust, with Alex and Eva Robinson, sophomore Morgan Tenpenny, as well as seniors Anastasiia Draha and Kathryn Borthwick), I Four (freshman coxswain Megan Engerman, sophomores Emerson Linthicum and Grace Bailey, along with junior Sofia D'Ascenzo and senior Rory Brennan), II Four (junior coxswain Kayley Chism, seniors Rory Brennan and Abigail Steffen, sophomore Isabel Smikahl, as well as freshmen Hollis Andreen and Isabel Rassato), and III Eight (freshmen Samantha Ronen, Ashley Herbert, Suyin Howard, Naida Paschal, Talia Copoloff, seniors Lauren Burright and Catherine Bachovchin, sophomore Audrey Crowson, with junior Andronika Dyer) races with respective times of 6:39.84, 7:14.1, 7:25.72, and 6:38.8 in their individual second heats to close out round one of the Minnesota Invite.

Round two opened with an impressive second place performance by the I Eight boat, posting a 6:29.72 time to surpass Iowa's crew with a notable five second time margin and Wisconsin's by a substantial 20 seconds.

The II Eight (6:46.0) and I Four (7:31.23) crews each retained fourth in their individual races, clocking in just seconds behind Wisconsin's boats during afternoon's action.

In the II Four race, the Jayhawks locked in a third place standing with a 7:45.97 time to outpace Wisconsin by a second.

Finally, with the best finish from Kansas over the course of the regatta, the III Eight came in first against all Big 10 opponents, locking in a time of 6:57.84, two seconds ahead of Minnesota to close out the racing events.

To see all results and times, click here.

UP NEXT
Kansas Rowing will head back to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida for the Big 12 Rowing Championships, competing against highly competitive, conference opponents on Sunday, May 17. Times will be announced soon.