Third Varsity Eight earns bronze at Sunshine State Invite
SARASOTA, Fla. – Four of Kansas’ five shells raced in the grand finals on day two of the Sunshine State Invite, highlighted by one crew medaling, at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida.
The Jayhawks are bringing home some hardware as KU’s Quiet Beast took third place in the Third Varsity Eight.
The 3V8 was coxed by sophomore Emma Yowell and powered by freshman Jadyn Jay, freshman Amanda Binger, freshman Jenna Lenherr, sophomore London Acree, senior Valerie Swisher, freshman Maggie Habben, freshman Margo Hunter and sophomore Anna Van Driel earned KU’s first medal of the season after clocking a time of 7:12.59.
Kansas’ Wakarusa placed first in its field in the First Varsity Four Petite Final with a time of 7:37.20. The Wakarusa was coxed by sophomore Liana Ochoa and powered by sophomore Katie Donnellan, sophomore Jaryn Folk, senior Michaela Theis and senior Aminah Reid-Brydon. The 1V4 crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of Clemson to secure first place.
The First and Second Varsity Eights both placed fifth in their respective grand finals. Wave the Wheat (1V8) crossed the finish line a second behind Kansas State with a time of 6:38.88, while Ad Astra (2V8) beat out Tulsa to round out the top five with a time of 6:51.45. In KU’s last grand final appearance of the Sunshine State Invite, the Second Varsity Four placed seventh after clocking a time of 7:47.45.
KEY RACES
- The Third Varsity Eight had the lone top-three finish as the Quiet Beast came in behind No. 18 Alabama and Kansas State.
- KU’s Oread took first-place for the First Varsity Four, crossing the finish line in 7:37.20.
QUOTES
Head coach Carrie Cook-Callen
On the Quiet Beast’s third-place finish:
“The Third Varsity Eight probably raced the race plan the best of all of our crews today and put themselves in the position to earn a medal against a very competitive field.”
On moving forward to George Mason:
“It will be important that we continue to execute our race plan to put more boats in medaling and winning positions. We know exactly what we need to work on this week in practice before hitting the race course at the George Mason Invite.”
UP NEXT
Kansas heads back to the east coast for the George Mason Invite on Sunday, April 14 on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax Station, Virginia.
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