JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University women's rowing program began and ended the First Coast Head Race with a pair of first place times.
"It's so nice having this race in our backyard," said Head Coach Jim Mitchell. "We have the luxury of launching from our own boathouse, which is more comfortable but also gives us some extra training mileage. Our rowers put in between 15-30 kilometers today, so they are pretty tired. All in a satisfying day's work."
JU placed 1st, 3rd, and 4th in its first race of the day- a 10:15 a.m. Varsity Eight event. Jacksonville's A boat was in a league of its own, stopping the clock at 17:00.4 with no other crew in sight. Florida Technical finished second (17:32.9) to outpace JU's B and C boats who posted times of 17:49.10 and 18:27.10, respectively. Florida State (19:00.6) and FIT's B boat (19:18.8) rounded out the six-team field.
V8 A Lineup: Lauren Whetzel (coxswain); 8: Danielle Keeler; 7: Stefanie Keeler; 6: Juliana Welch; 5: Jessica Mathews; 4: Victoria Hernandez; 3: Victoria Tkacz; 2: Veronika Stasityte; 1: Rylie Ayles
V8 B Lineup: Renee Pharis (coxswain); 8: Joan Spinelli; 7: Ashley Hirt; 6: Kelly Cleveland; 5: Casey Sandorf; 4: Jennifer Pavlik; 3: Sydney Warpness; 2: Jodi Coia; 1: April Beck
V8 C Lineup: Monica Hakun (coxswain); 8: Jessica Lindsay; 7: Stacey Price; 6: Michaela Hill; 5: Bridget Keough; 4: Savannah Distin; 3: Emily Woods; 2: Tori West; 1: Gabrielle Ayzen
The Dolphins nearly finished in the top three slots of the Varsity Four race but FIT spoiled the run as they rowed across the finish line a little over a minute before JU's C boat for third. Jacksonville's B crew clocked a time of 20:52.4 to win the event while JU's A boat was seconds behind its fellow Fins to row in at second (20:57.5).
V4 A Lineup: Alyssa Rice (coxswain); 4: Danielle Keeler; 3: Jessica Mathews; 2: Juliana Welch; 1: Stefanie Keeler
V4 B Lineup: Claire McLenna (coxswain); 4: Victoria Hernandez; 3: Laura Stevenson; 2: Allison Rector; 1: Ashley Hirt
V4 C Lineup: Brittney Boggus (coxswain); 4: Joan Spinelli; 3: Alex Pulliam; 2: Justine Quick; 1: Emily Woods
"We had a great day of racing today," continued Mitchell. "The conditions were hot but the water was excellent. Our coxswains steered great over the challenging course, and our rowers rowed well. We showed we are deeper as a program than we have been in the past."
Next, Jacksonville embarks on its first road trip of the fall, heading to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the Head of the Hooch regatta on Saturday, Nov. 1.
