SARASOTA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The Varsity Eight provided momentum for the UCF rowing team with a win to close out the first day of the Sunshine State Invitational.
The squad, consisting of Nicole Mayer, Lauren Aiello, Ashleigh Boyd, Julie Poulsen, Marija Medelinskaite, Viktorija Senkute, Mia Cleary, Edvina Nesukaityte and Zana Krakic, edged Tulsa to capture the first Black and Gold victory of the day at Nathan Benderson Park. The Knights posted a winning time of 6:31.7.
The day opened with the Second Varsity Four race. The Knights lined up a pair of boats, with both crossing the line in the top five. The "A" squad, consisting of Kristen Taylor, Jessika Scholz, Jacinta Kendall, Alyssa Ramos and Shannon Perry, finished third with a time of 7:42.8. The "B" boat, consisting of Erica Jimenez, Jazmin Sepulveda, Nicole Snyder, Raquel Smeenge and Caitlin Ross, finished fifth with a time of 7:57.7.
The Varsity Four, consisting of Catherine Harms, Paula Parks, Grace Lindberg, Darby Brooks and Sydney Hays, continued the day with a fifth place finish, crossing the line in 7:44.3.
In the first eight boat event of the day, the Novice/Third Varsity Eight boat, consisting of Ashley Martin, Liz Mallet, Jordan Jahosky, Danielle Braun, Dina Samaan, Danielle Wilson, Victoria Gingras, Ashley Barnes and Triston Krebs, finished sixth with a time of 7:33.44.
The Second Varsity Eight, consisting of Olivia Hecimovich, Anna Mahoney, Claudia Destefani, Aly Derksen, Ivana Krkljus, Leslie Lajoie, Rachel Rabinowitz, Danielle Taylor and Jasmine Blais, battled for a top three finish. UCF's time of 6:52.7 was just over a second off Miami's winning time of 6:51.5.
The Knights return to action at 8 a.m. tomorrow for the second day of the Sunshine State Invitational.
Friday Results
2V4
1. Alabama 7:31.7
2. Tulsa 7:36.1
3. UCF 7:42.8
4. Kansas State 7:49.7
5. UCF "B" 7:57.7
6. UNC 7:57.7
7. Jacksonville 8:01.2
8. Miami 8:04.9
V4
1. Alabama 7:24.2
2. Tulsa 7:27.6
3. Kansas State 7:34.8
4. UNC 7:37.5
5. UCF 7:44.3
6. Jacksonville 7:54.1
7. Miami 8:03.5
8. Stetson 10:03.0
3V8
1. Alabama 6:55.9
2. Kansas State 6:57.04
3. Alabama "B" 7:01.44
4. UNC 7:10.83
5. Miami 7:33.03
6. UCF 7:33.44
2V8
1. Miami 6:51.5
2. Kansas State 6:51.9
3. UCF 6:52.7
4. UNC 6:56.8
5. Alabama 7:01.36
6. Jacksonville 7:04.1
7. Stetson 8:41.8
8. Tulsa 11:08.98
V8
1. UCF 6:31.7
2. Tulsa 6:32.7
3. Alabama 6:38.6
4. Miami 6:41.2
5. Kansas State 6:48
6. Jacksonville 6:51.71
7. UNC 6:55.9
8. Stetson 7:36.5