Top-Five Finishes Propel Kansas in Knecht Cup
West Windsor, N.J. – The Kansas rowing team continued its impressive performance from day one of the Knecht Cup into the final day of racing as the Jayhawks improved in each boat and had a successful day overall. In total, Kansas returns to Lawrence with two medals from the weekend’s races.
“I think our team gained a lot of confidence this weekend,” said Kansas head coach Rob Catloth. “We’ve improved across the board, and we’re continuing to learn how to race at a high level.”
In the Varsity Eight semifinal, Kansas placed third to qualify itself for the Petite Final competition against Bucknell, Duquesne, Holy Cross and Temple. KU crossed with a time of 6:54.08.
The Jayhawks came out strong in the Petite Final, claiming a first-place finish in the event. Kansas crossed the finish line with a time of 6:51.20, not only was that nearly three seconds quicker than its morning row, but the time was more than two seconds faster than second-place finisher Bucknell and nearly nine seconds quicker than the rest of the field. Rowing for KU were seniors Julia Alvey, Brooke Thuston and Claudijah Lever, juniors Maggie Duncan, coxswain Mary Slattery, Tessa Scott and sophomores Olivia Loney, Allison Schaaf and Maddie Irelan.
The Second Varsity Eight was next in line. The Jayhawks finished in third-place in their semifinal race with a time of 7:03.76, punching their ticket to the Petite Final later in the day.
The Petite Final proved to be a competitive race as the Jayhawks finished in third-place behind West Virginia and Alabama with a time of 7:05.80. KU placed ahead of the remaining field of North Carolina, Temple and Holy Cross. The boat consisted of seniors Jennifer Hartzler and Alexa Fowlkes sophomores Lexie Lanphere, coxswain Kenzie Obrochta, Margret Winter, Jordan Helms and Katherine Young freshman BriAnna Dittberner and Kaelyn Thierolf.
In the Third Varsity Eight competition, KU faced off with Alabama, Central Florida, Delaware and West Virginia in the heat. The Jayhawks cruised past their opponents and into the Grand Final with a time of 7:12.61.
Kansas finished the Third Varsity Eight racing with a second-place finish in the Grand Final with a time of 7:10.00, falling to Boston College by less than two seconds. Rowing in the Third Varsity Eight were seniors Erin Brogan, coxswain Briana Pina, Kristen Byrd and Allie Griffin, junior Jackie Adamle, sophomores Bailey Brandon, Emily Ruble and Mackenzie Klaver and freshman Daisy Tackett.
The Varsity Four was busy in action as the boat finished third in the semifinal race with a time of 7:45.07. The third-place finish qualified KU for the Petite Final.
In the Petite Final, Kansas finished just behind Bucknell to place second in the event with a time of 7:47.83. Powering the boat for KU were junior Margaret Hornick, sophomores Kate Cropp, Kylee Dewey, Madison Hovis and coxswain Mallory Miller.
The Jayhawks then competed in their first Grand Final race of the day in the Second Varsity Four, where KU finished in second-place directly behind Tulsa. Kansas clocked a time of 7:43.86, nearly two seconds faster from Saturday. KU was paced by senior coxswain Sarah Lasini, junior Casey Kelly, sophomores Danielle Gibson, Brittney Railsback and freshman Angie Allen.
Kansas began the morning in the Novice Four competition, where KU finished first in the heat with a time of 8:07.01, qualifying the young Jayhawks for the Grand Final race.
In the Grand Final, the Jayhawks finished in fourth place, putting up a time of 8:12.31. Rowing for Kansas were freshman coxswain Bailey Coolidge, Ally Fullerton, Caitlin McNulty, Keaton Poppe and Payton Vedders.
“Overall I think we performed pretty well,” stated Catloth. “In some of those events we missed advancing to the Grand Final by a half second or a whole second. The competition here was really tough this year and teams were really close in speed.”
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Complete Kansas Results
In order of the day’s events
First Novice Four – 1st place (8:07.01)
Bailey Coolidge – Coxswain
Caitlin McNulty
Ally Fullerton
Payton Vedders
Keaton Poppe
First Varsity Four – semifinal 3rd place (7:39.70)
Mallory Miller – Coxswain
Kate Cropp
Kylee Dewey
Margaret Hornick
Madison Hovis
Second Varsity Four – Grand Final 2nd place (7:43.86)
Sarah Lasini – Coxswain
Brittney Railsback
Casey Kelly
Angie Allen
Danielle Gibson
Third Varsity Eight – semifinal 1st place (7:12.61)
Briana Pina – Coxswain
Allie Griffin
Erin Brogan
Jackie Adamle
Emily Ruble
Kristen Byrd
Daisy Tackett
Mackenzie Klaver
Bailey Brandon
Second Varsity Eight – semifinal 3rd place (7:03.76)
Kenzie Obrochta – Coxswain
Jennifer Hartzler
Lexie Lanphere
Alexa Fowlkes
BriAnna Dittberner
Kaelyn Thierolf
Margret Winter
Jordan Helms
Katherine Young
First Varsity Eight – semifinal 3rd place (6:54.08)
Mary Slattery – Coxswain
Maggie Duncan
Brooke Thuston
Claudijah Lever
Olivia Loney
Tessa Scott
Allison Schaaf
Julia Alvey
Maddie Irelan
First Novice Four – Grand Final 4th place (8:12.31)
Bailey Coolidge – Coxswain
Caitlin McNulty
Ally Fullerton
Payton Vedders
Keaton Poppe
First Varsity Four – Petite Final 2nd place (7:47.83)
Mallory Miller – Coxswain
Kate Cropp
Kylee Dewey
Margaret Hornick
Madison Hovis
Third Varsity Eight – Grand Final 2nd place (7:10.00)
Briana Pina – Coxswain
Allie Griffin
Erin Brogan
Jackie Adamle
Emily Ruble
Kristen Byrd
Daisy Tackett
Mackenzie Klaver
Bailey Brandon
Second Varsity Eight – Petite Final 3rd place (7:05.80)
Kenzie Obrochta – Coxswain
Jennifer Hartzler
Lexie Lanphere
Alexa Fowlkes
BriAnna Dittberner
Kaelyn Thierolf
Margret Winter
Jordan Helms
Katherine Young
First Varsity Eight – Petite Final 1st place (6:51.20)
Mary Slattery – Coxswain
Maggie Duncan
Brooke Thuston
Claudijah Lever
Olivia Loney
Tessa Scott
Allison Schaaf
Julia Alvey
Maddie Irelan
