Nov. 12, 2008
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa women’s rowing team will conclude its 2008 fall season this Sunday in Charlottesville, VA, for the Rivanna Romp. Races will begin at approximately 8 a.m.
THE RACE — The Hawkeyes will race in a scrimmage against Virginia on Friday before competition. Sunday’s competition will begin with varsity eights races. Iowa will race three boats in the eights’ competition. The Hawkeyes will then compete in pairs competition later in the day.
SCHOOLS ATTENDING — Iowa will compete in a nine-team field including Ohio State, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Miami, Duke, Georgetown, Old Dominion and Virginia.
LAST EVENT — In their last outing, the Hawkeyes raced boats in both varsity and novice competition. Two boats placed in the top-20 for the varsity eights, qualifying them for the 2000 meter finals. Iowa boat-C missed qualifying by one place. Iowa boat-A placed sixth in the final with a time of 6:58.10, while boat-B finished 10th in a time of 7:08.80. Both novice boats that raced in a 4000 meter early in the day finished in the top-15. Boat-A finished seventh in a time of 19:09.12 and boat-B placed 14th in a time of 20:13.55.
HEAD COACH — Mandi Kowal is in her 15th year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. In the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Rowing Championships, she coached the Varsity 4+ teams to fourth and eighth-places finishes, respectively. Kowal began her rowing career at the University of Wisconsin in 1981. She was a two-time rowing World Champion in the Women’s Lightweight 4- (1986-1987). She was named Female Athlete of the Year in 1987 by the US Rowing Association and was inducted into the United States Rowing Hall of Fame in 1997.
QUOTING COACH KOWAL — “We are looking forward to racing in Virginia. There will be good competition there and we are excited to race these teams”