Duke Advances Two Boats to Grand Finals

Saturday, March 28

San Diego, Calif.

All Day

Duke University

Day One at San Diego Crew Classic

Duke Advances Two Boats to Grand Finals

3/28/2015 3:26:00 PM | Rowing

By: Duke Sports Information

SAN DIEGO – The opening day of the Crew Classic was a big success for the Duke rowing squad as two of its boats advanced to the grand finals. The Blue Devils' V8 and 2V8 advanced to the main event while the V4 qualified for the petite finals.

“The coaching staff is pleased with our first day of rowing,” head coach Robyn Horner said. “We know tomorrow will be fiercely competitive. We need to find our top-end speed and push out of our comfort zone.”

Duke's V8 started off the morning by finishing in 6:54.46 to place first in the opening heat of the Cal Cup. By winning its heat, the boat advanced to Sunday's grand finale.

The Blue Devils' V4 placed third in its heat of the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup competition and will take part in Sunday's petite final. Duke clocked a time of 8:06.96 in the event.

Rounding out the day was the 2V8, which took second in its heat of the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy race. The boat, which advances to Sunday's grand finale, finished in 7:11.85.

Duke's V4 will race in Lane 2 at 11:32 a.m. ET Sunday in the petite final while the 2V8 will be in Lane 4 for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Grand Final, which starts at 12:44 p.m. The V8 will be in Lane 3 for the Cal Cup Grand Final at 12:52 p.m. The Blue Devils' other boat in competition, the 2V4, will race at 2:40 p.m. Sunday in Lane 4 of the finals only Women's Collegiate 4+ B race.

Duke Times and Lineups
Cal Cup Heat A
1. Duke – 6:54.46
2. Saint Mary's (CA) – 6:57.62
3. Duquesne – 7:02.30
4. Old Dominion – 7:02.68
5. Purdue – 7:03.36
V8 – Simone Pitre – Phoebe Donovan, Tara Dalton, Jessica Findlay, Caroline Williams, Katie Dukovich, Claire Vannelli, Elizabeth Horne, Katherine Maitland

Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup Heat B
1. UCLA – 7:46.74
2. Sacramento State – 7:58.36
3. Duke – 8:06.96
4. San Diego State – 8:25.42
5. Santa Clara – 8:44.95
V4 – Samantha Bowman – Tani O'Neill, Sophia Staal, Patricia Kolman, Karolina Wadolowska

Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy Heat B
1. UCLA – 7:00.84
2. Duke – 7:11.85
3. Tennessee – 7:17.54
4. Old Dominion – 7:22.99
5. UC San Diego – 7:32.23
6. Santa Clara – 8:02.89
2V8 – Karla Beltran – Caroline Murphy, Lauren Miranda, Rachel Wolsfelt, Sarah Fletcher, Alex Stonehill, Julie Rohde, Mary Wilson, Hannah Hewitt