No. 12 Rowing Sends All Boats to C Finals of NCAA Championship

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – All boats out of UCF are heading to C Finals following heats and semifinals on day one of the NCAA Championship at Lake Lanier Olympic Park on Friday.

Due to severe weather concerns, race officials moved semifinals up a day from Saturday morning to Friday afternoon, just hours after heat races.

HEATS

The morning began with the first heat coming from the First 8+. The boat consisted of coxswain Audrey Vilendrer alongside Sofia Naboni Nevado, Ines Martin, Luna Kuiper, Lucy Buckingham, Coralie Detre, Brigitte Kappler, Amalie Thorsen and rounded out by Hannah Lovejoy. The boat crossed the finish fourth with a time of 06:07.47, advancing to the C/D Semifinal.

The next boat out was the Second 8+ compiled of coxswain Vianna Smith with Sofia Scott, Tea Zivkovic, Cate Maloney, Maja Misljenovic, Sophia Keller, Madison Lovejoy, Kesha Bruinette and Sofia Palacios. The crew of nine followed behind an impressive field of teams include reigning champions in Stanford as well as No. 1 Tennessee, Syracuse and Ohio State. The Knights clocked in a time of 06:20.20, heading to the C/D Semifinal.

The First 4+ went out last to close out the morning of heats, slotting in at fourth following Stanford, Brown and Miami. The crew, holding coxswain Eliza Shaffer, Lujza Kovacs, Julia Schultz, Maci Brede and Amber Tulloch, clocked in a time of 07:03.93. With the final result in, all UCF boats were bound for the C/D Semifinals.

SEMIFINALS

The First 8+ was once again the first UCF boat to take to the water, opening the afternoon of competition. The Knights were the second to cross the line, finishing with a time of 06:17.82, earning their place in the C Finals.

The final crew of nine to go out on the day, the Second 8+ secured a win on the day for the Knights, finishing ahead of Columbia, Oregon State, Rhode Island and Jacksonville. The Black and Gold boat crossed the finish with a time of 06:28.51.

Closing out the full day of racing, the First 4+ took to the water, securing another second-place finish for the Knights. UCF only trailed Oregon State, finishing just over three seconds behind, clocking a time of 07:13.95.

With all boats finishing within the top two of their respective races, all UCF boats head to Sunday’s C finals for the second consecutive year.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.