AUSTIN, Texas (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF rowing team advanced three boats to the A Final in a strong showing at the Longhorn Invitational on Saturday.
The Knights switched up lineups in every boat, sending the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four to the A Finals in their respective races.
In the morning session of the regatta, the Varsity Eight posted its fastest time of the season, 6:13.513 to advance to the A Final in the afternoon session. The boat, consisting of Kristen Taylor, Julie Poulsen, Lauren Aiello, Ashleigh Boyd, Marija Medelinskaite, Viktorija Senkute, Mia Cleary, Edvina Nesukaityte and Zana Krakic, finished second in its heat.
The V8 squad closed the day in the A Final, edging No. 14 Duke by less than a second to finish third with a time of 6:24.812.
The Second Varsity Eight continued the trend, posting a season-best time of 6:44.344. The squad, consisting of Nicole Mayer, Claudia Destefani, Anna Mahoney, Ivana Krkljus, Rachael Klunder, Rachel Rabinowitz, Grace Lindberg, Danielle Taylor and Jasmine Blais, advanced to the A Final after a third place finish in its heat.
The 2V8 posted an even faster time in the A Final, crossing the line fourth with a time of 6:44.013.
In the Varsity Four race, no official time was taken in UCF's heat. Instead, the boat, consisting of Olivia Hecimovich, Aly Derksen, Darby Brooks, Leslie Lajoie and Paula Parks, advanced to the A Final. The Knights posted their fastest time this season at 7:28.769 to finish fourth.
UCF's Second Varsity Four "A," consisting of Catherine Harms, Jazmin Sepulveda, Nicole Snyder, Sydney Hays and Caitlin Ross, finished third in its heat with a time of 7:36.178. The boat took third in the B Final with a mark of 7:45.334.
The Second Varsity Four "B" boat consisted of Jillian Jernas, Jessika Scholz, Jacinta Kendall, Alyssa Ramos, Shannon Perry. The squad finished fourth in its heat with a time of 7:42.634. The boat dropped its time in the B Final to finish second with a mark of 7:37.253.
The Third Varsity Eight, consisting of Ashley Martin, Liz Mallet, Raquel Smeenge, Daria Chiarella, Danielle Wilson, Jordan Jahosky, Victoria Gingras, Danielle Bruan and Triston Krebs, finished in 7:10.217 in its heat. The boat posted a mark of 7:30.037 in the B Final.
UCF returns to Florida for the Sunshine State Invitational March 1 - April 1 in Sarasota.