Rowing preview: Head of the Colorado
Oct. 29, 2009
Texas at the Head of the Colorado LONGHORN & RACE NOTABLES • The Head of the Colorado is a 5,000 meter head-race held annually on the last Saturday of October, and is currently in its 25th year. The Regatta offers events for the following boat types; singles, doubles, quads, pairs, coxed fours and eights in the following categories; open, masters, juniors, novice, and recreational. In 2005, “The Pumpkinhead” introduced its new Seven Bridges course. The course begins at the Rowing Dock, just west of the Mopac Expressway Bridge and travels through all seven bridges on Town Lake. • At the 2008 Head of the Colorado (Nov. 1), Texas’ first varsity eight of coxswain Mary Cait McPherson, Jennifer VanderMaarel, Callie Mattrisch, Jelena Zunic, Anna Thomson, Meg George, Nancy Arrington, Jacqueline Gorcyca and Felicia Izaguirre-Werner recorded a time of 17:15.5 and earned second place in the open eight, while the second varsity eight crossed the finish in 17:36.7 and claimed fourth. Texas’ four entries shined in the women’s open pair, claiming first, second, third and sixth place. The tandem of Thomson and Sara Cottingham placed first (21:33.9), the pair of George and Mattrisch (21:58.2) took second, while Angela Kirchner and Colleen Irby placed third (21:58.6) and Sally Tunell and Emily Cook claimed sixth (22:40.9).
• Texas kicked off its fall racing season at the Boot of the Oklahoma on Oct. 3,2009, collecting wins by the first varsity eight and first varsity four. The first varsity eight crew of coxswain Mary Cait McPherson, stroke Jennifer VanderMaarel, Felicia Izaguirre-Werner, Meg George, Callie Mattrisch, Jelena Zunic, Karli Sheahan, Sally Tunell and Nancy Arrington won the collegiate eight, crossing the finish in 14:04.034. In the collegiate fours race, Texas’ top boat of coxswain Emma Dirks, VanderMaarel, Izaguirre-Werner, George and Sheahan won the race, finishing in 15:58.008. • In 2009, the Longhorns claimed the inaugural Big 12 Rowing Championship after winning seven straight Big 12 Invitational titles. Texas won the conference’s first title, totaling 51 points, while Kansas State finished second with 48 points and Kansas placed third with 45 points. Oklahoma did not compete for the crown, only participating in the novice and varsity four races. Texas’ varsity and novice squads combined for two victories, winning the second novice eight and second varsity eight races. • Texas’ 2009-10 squad returns a talented stable of seniors that includes Nancy Arrington, Meg George, Colleen Irby, Callie Mattrisch and coxswain Mary Cait McPherson. Texas also returns eight of the nine members of its Big 12 Championship first varsity eight. • The Horns add a talented freshman class in 2009-10 with the additions of Laurel McCaig, Charity McDonald, Hannah Moon and Katarina Susac.
2V8: Coxswain Emma Dirks, stroke Katarina Susac, Laurel McCaig, Stephanie Matejka, Tajana Lovric, Jacqueline Gorcyca, Courtney Nicklas, Sally Tunell and Julia Stevens 3V8: Coxswain Megan Kelly, Charity McDonald, Katrina Cerk, Kait Postle, Allison Weiland, Tara Saad, Liz Keenan, Natasia Giles and Lucia Babar
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