Anteaters Make History & Win Gold!
May 10, 2009
Philadelphia, Pa. --- UC Irvine's Women's Varsity Four made history Saturday in winning the Grand Final at the 71st annual Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
UCI entered the semifinal heat with the fastest time trial from the first day and the Anteaters placed second to advance to the Grand Final. Three hours later, Coach Carrie Chamberlain-Parsons' Varsity Four of Heather Conniff (coxswain), Ashley Fee (stroke), Alex Bolt (3), Elizabeth Nguyen (2), and Allison Baker (bow) took to the water for their final race of the season. The original 37 crews from Friday had been narrowed down to the final six.
Out of the blocks Irvine took control of the race leading Brock (Canada), Drake (Iowa), Stetson (Fla.), Tulsa (Okla.), and Jacksonville (Fla.) into the first 500-meter mark. The Anteaters set a blistering pace in windy, choppy conditions, crossing the line in 7:36.362 to claim Gold and the Margaret McNiff Trophy. Brock followed in 7:37.370 with Drake taking third in 7:40.666.
The Anteaters' performance marks their place in Irvine history as the first crew to take First at the Dad Vail Regatta!
Results
Women's Varsity 4 Final
UC Irvine 7:36.362
Brock 7:37.370
Drake 7:40.666
Stetson 7:40.906
Tulsa 7:41.182
Jacksonville 7:47.500
