April 17, 2011
Lake Natoma Invitational Sunday Results
GOLD RIVER, Calif. - Fifth-ranked Stanford women's rowing completed a successful weekend at the Lake Natoma Invitational, topping the "A" Group's final points tally Sunday thanks in part to victories by the I and II Eights.
The wins capped an undefeated weekend for both boats, while the Cardinal Four took second place in Sunday's "A" Group Final. The novice eight took fourth in its Grand Final.
"It was an excellent regatta with super cross-regional competition. The team really stuck together and every boat learned and grew with each race," said Stanford women's rowing head coach Yasmin Farooq. "The desire and focus to improve is really apparent with this group. They are in it for each other and their selfless approach is reaping dividends every day."
The I Eight crossed the line in Sunday's final with a winning time of 6:21.40, just over four and a half seconds faster than Pac-10 rival California. Stanford's top boat advanced to the "A" Group thanks to an unbeaten effort Saturday, in which the Cardinal (6:26.80) defeated Wisconsin and Central Florida in morning action then beat Notre Dame and Sacramento State with a winning time of 6:29.60 in the afternoon.
The defending national silver medalist II Eight also turned in a perfect weekend of its own. Two wins on Saturday led the Cardinal into Sunday's "A" Group Final, in which the Stanford boat raced to a 5.20-second victory over runner-up California and Brown.
The Four opened its weekend with a split in its Saturday races. The Cardinal opened the day with a close win over Wisconsin and Central Florida before taking second to Notre Dame in the afternoon. The boat turned in another second-place finish Sunday, finishing seven seconds back of California in the "A" Group Final.
In the point standings for the "A" Group, the Cardinal topped its threesome with 17 points, ahead of California (13) and Brown (six).
Stanford's novice eight qualified for Sunday's Grand Final with a second-place finish in its Saturday heat with a time of 7:06.21. The crew would then improve its time by three seconds in Sunday's race despite a fourth-place finish.
Lineups
I Eight: Coxswain- Nicole Weinrich, Elle Logan, Anna Dawson, Claire Grover, Grace Luczak, Julianna Kapjian-Pitt, Lindsay Meyer, Erika Roddy, Christina Bax
II Eight: Coxswain- Tiffany Dao, Michelle Vezie, Erin Radigan, Susan Bryukhanov, Julia Thompson, Kristin Wentzel, Marielle Higgins, Daphne Martschenko, Sarah Bolmer
Four: Coxswain- Katie Lopez, Claire Fisher, Christina Walker, Rebecca Felix, Carly Villareal
II Four: Coxswain- Ayesha Rasheed, Kayla Cornale, Sarah Kaewert, Laura Pospisil, Chierika Ukogu
Novice Eight: Coxswain- Ayesha Rasheed, Laura Pospisil, Alison Fauci, Kelley Hug, Chierika Ukogu, Annie Osborn, Valerie Frank, Shanique Martin, Elise Racine