Duke Claims Pair Of First Place Finishes At Head Of The Hooch

Saturday, November 3

Chattanooga, Tenn.

All Day

Duke University

Day One

Duke Rowing To Represent ACC In ACC-Big 10 Challenge

Duke Claims Pair Of First Place Finishes At Head Of The Hooch

11/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

By: Duke Sports Information

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A pair of first-place finishes in the open quad and the novice single races highlighted the Duke rowing team's weekend at the Head of the Hooch on Nov. 3-4 on the Tennessee River. Thirteen of Duke's 23 boats finished among the top 10 in their respective events, with five boats placing in the top five.

Duke's 4X squad of Janet Bartholdson, Kate Kearney, Michelle Lancto and Emily Rothfield took first-place honors in the open 4X, while sophomore Danielle Beckerman put up a first-place solo effort in the novice single.

Two-time All-America selection Lia Hart also notched a second place finish in the championship singles to lead a trio of Blue Devils who finished among the top-10 in the event. Sophomore Laura Fisher came in sixth to edge freshman teammate Laurel Sisler, who took seventh-place honors.

The Blue Devil pairing of Hart and Fisher also collected sixth place in the championship doubles, while the underclassman duo of Emily Rothfield and Alex Japhet teamed up to take eighth in the event.

Virginia Kane and Alison Sagar picked up a fourth-place finish in the open pairs, while the open quad group of Iraina Miles, Alex MacLeish, Nicole Weathers, Liz Martin turned in a fifth-place effort.

In the championship eights, Duke's “white boat,” comprised of Katie Tobin, Alison Sagar, Jessica Gaul, Amanda Pade, Alex MacLeish, Lesley King, Steffi Decker, Bartholdson and Krystina Wallis was the team's top finisher in 10th place. Duke's “blue boat” took 12th place and the “Blue Devil Boat” claimed 16th.

Mary Caroline Dyke also collected eighth place in the novice single, while the duo of Gwen Coleman and Krystina Wallis took 11th in the open pairs.

“It was great to get some good, competitive racing in before the fall season wrapped up,” head coach Robyn Horner said. “We still need to focus on getting inside and getting in better shape, but we're looking forward to the winter when we can improve our fitness in preparation for the spring.”

The Head of the Hooch signals the end of the fall season for the Duke rowing team. The Blue Devils will kick off the spring season on Feb. 23 with a meeting against North Carolina on Lake Michie in Bahama, N.C.

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