Hawkeyes Open at Head of the Des Moines

Sept. 29, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s rowing team opened the 2012 fall season on Saturday at the Head of the Des Moines. The event, held on a 5.05 kilometer stretch of the Des Moines River, was the first regatta for Iowa under new head coach Steve Pritzker.

“Today was a good opportunity for our athletes to go down the course and develop many of the skills we have been working on,” said Pritzker. “Today was a small first step in a long process.”

Iowa opened the regatta with three boats in the collegiate 8 race. The Hawkeye A boat came in first place with a time of 16:58.92. Iowa’s B boat finished in a time of 17:51.01 to finish second.

Iowa’s Nina Hendriks participated next in the collegiate single, finishing first in 23:15.56.

The Hawkeyes had three boats in the collegiate pair as Iowa would take the top three spots, with the A boat of Erin Czupil and Laura Hallman finishing first in a time of 20:18.27. Iowa’s B boat finished in 21:10.72, and Iowa’s C boat finished in 23.31.83.

Iowa’s novice roster hit the water for the first time, entering three boats in the collegiate novice 8’s. Iowa’s A boat, led by Katie Brown, finished first with a time of 19:15.24. Iowa’s other boats finished fourth (22:31.75) and fifth (23:14.66), respectively.

The final race of the day for Iowa was the collegiate 4’s. Iowa’s best finish was first place (18:49.51). Iowa’s other boats finished second (19:36.58), fourth (20:07.78) and seventh (21:19.79).

Iowa returns to action Oct. 14 at the Head of the Rock in Rockford, Ill.