Hawkeyes Finish Weekend at Rocky Top Invite

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The University of Iowa rowing team completed day two of the Rocky Top Invite on Melton Hill Lake Saturday afternoon. After Friday’s heats, the 1V8, 1V4 and 3V8 advanced to the first heat of the semi-finals while the 2V8 and 2V4 advanced to the second heat of semi-finals. Semi-final placements were determined by times from Friday and boats were reseeded. Iowa competed in the second finals in all boat classes with the 3V8 and 2V4 recording the highest finishes both finishing first in their final.

FINISHES
No. 5 Tennessee swept all heat, semi-finals and finals races to finish with 198 points. The rest of the field finished: No. 17 Alabama – 151, No.15 Duke – 131, No. 25 UCLA – 121, No. 14 Penn – 114, Minnesota – 67, No. 24 USC – 66, Clemson – 51, and Iowa – 49.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JEFF GARBUTT
“I am proud of the team, even though we had to move lineups, the team handled that with a lot of resiliencies. There were a lot of positives that each boat was able to take away from this weekend and areas that each boat can improve on. Each week we want to get faster than the last and I think our athletes put together great complete races this weekend. The 3V8 hit the times they wanted and put down really competitive races. Our 1V4 and 2V4 got better each race and were able to adjust their race plan and executed it well. The 2V8 learned from each race and built off of that throughout the weekend. As we get more consistent time on the water this will help us continue to learn and grow. Looking forward to being back on the water with a positive mindset and being excited about the process of getting better.”

RESULTS
Finals

Iowa stayed connected to the leaders through the opening meters of the race. Toward the middle meters the field found an open water lead over the Hawkeyes. Iowa responded with a strong push at the end but were unable to make up the distance.

Varsity Eight
1 Penn (6:45.47)
2 Clemson (6:48.67)
3 USC (6:49.54)
4 Iowa (6:56.21)
Iowa: Carissa Cochico (cox), Katie Proudlove, Ella Grove, Sophia Foreman, Beatrix Hearn, Leah Nawrot, Andy Mills, Scarlett Maleham, Mia Lawrence

UCLA led from start to finish but the Hawkeyes were connected to them through the entire race. At the 1500-meter mark, Clemson closed the gap between themselves and the Hawkeyes making a final push to the finish line. The Hawkeyes held off their charge to finish second.

II Varsity Eight
1 UCLA (6:50.61)
2 Iowa (6:52.69)
3 Clemson (6:53.51)
4 Minnesota (6:56.81)
Iowa: Taylor Arbuckle (cox), Lauren Bengtson, Catherine Finerty, Haley Hayes, Olivia Smothers, Evan Schwickerath, Isabelle DeLong, Meghan Harris, Emma Rayner

USC took an early lead with the Hawkeyes staying close. At the halfway mark, the Hawkeyes remained connected to the leaders and got more separation from Minnesota in the third position. In the final 500-meters, the Hawkeyes surged but were unable to close the gap between themselves and USC.

Varsity Four
1 USC (7:37.36)
2 Iowa (7:41.34)
3 Minnesota (7:44.02)
4 Clemson (7:56.74)
Iowa: Kimberly Marquez (cox), Annabel Rayner, Soph Pepper, Chloe Fortin, Kendall Doerr

The Hawkeyes found an early lead in the opening meters with Clemson and Minnesota staying connected through the first half of the race. The Hawkeyes continued to push and lengthen their lead, finishing with an open water lead over the field.

II Varsity Four
1 Iowa (7:49.52)
2 Clemson (7:53.82)
3 Minnesota (8:26.74)
Iowa: Madeline Reid (cox), Emma Tate, Karire Evans, Madison Jones, Laura Murphy

Iowa grabbed the lead through the first 500-meters with Duke staying connected. At the half-way point, Duke took a slight advantage over the Hawkeyes. Iowa surged through the back half of the race, and edged out Duke in a photo finish win.

III Varsity Eight
1 Iowa (6:59.37)
2 Duke (7:00.08)
Iowa: Jordyn Gassmann (cox), Cait Quinn, Mikaela Mwangong, Ellie Stopak, Jadyn Pankow, Ryleigh McFarland, Maddy Stutler, Lena Jones, Milly Short

Semi-Finals

Varsity Eight
1 Tennessee (6:20.65)
2 Duke (6:33.01)
3 Clemson (6:36.75)
4 Iowa (6:50.34)
Iowa: Carissa Cochico (cox), Katie Proudlove, Ella Grove, Sophia Foreman, Beatrix Hearn, Leah Nawrot, Andy Mills, Scarlett Maleham, Mia Lawrence

II Varsity Eight
1 Alabama (6:34.85)
2 Penn (6:41.23)
3 UCLA (6:47.70)
4 Iowa (6:49.13)
5 Minnesota (6:54.85)
Iowa: Taylor Arbuckle (cox), Lauren Bengtson, Catherine Finerty, Haley Hayes, Olivia Smothers, Evan Schwickerath, Isabelle DeLong, Meghan Harris, Emma Rayner

Varsity Four
1 Tennessee (7:17.59)
2 Penn (7:26.39)
3 Clemson (7:37.25)
4 Iowa (7:40.74)
Iowa: Kimberly Marquez (cox), Annabel Rayner, Soph Pepper, Chloe Fortin, Kendall Doerr

II Varsity Four
1 Tennessee (7:18.69)
2 Duke (7:34.81)
3 Iowa (7:42.22)
4 Minnesota (7:48.76)
Iowa: Madeline Reid (cox), Emma Tate, Karire Evans, Madison Jones, Sidra Sakati

III Varsity Eight
1 Tennessee (6:35.18)
2 Alabama (6:50.69)
3 Iowa (6:54.36)
Iowa: Jordyn Gassmann (cox), Cait Quinn, Mikaela Mwangong, Ellie Stopak, Jadyn Pankow, Ryleigh McFarland, Maddy Stutler, Lena Jones, Milly Short

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action April 18 and 19 for the Big Ten Invitational in Sacramento, California.