June 5, 2010
CAMDEN, N.J. - Loyola University Maryland's Women's Lightweight Four boat clocked a time of 7:33.352 to win the grand final title at the 2010 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on the Cooper River.
Daisy Carter, Elizabeth Staub, Catriona Miller, Kimberly Winiarczyk and coxswain Katherine Griffin beat second-place Wisconsin by over three seconds for the victory.
"After watching the rowing and the heats, we knew there were going to be at least three other boats pressing hard on us," Ramirez said."It was clear that Wisconsin had a very aggressive race plan. Our race plan was to be in the medals by the 800-meter mark, and then to go for the gold.
"They followed the race-plan to the `T.' We were maintaining a longer, more relaxed rhythm. It's a very powerful group."
Wisconsin had the lead off the start and through the first 200-plus meters. Between, the 200 and 300 meter mark in the race, the Greyhounds pulled even and eventually moved in front at the 350-meter mark.
From that point, Loyola led for the rest of the race, taking a full boat-length lead near the 600-meter mark.
"They were so much smoother during their recovery," Ramirez said. "They looked so relaxed and calm in their low-stroke rate rhythm. They rowed the way they're used to rowing. It was clear to them with 500 or 600 to go that they were not going to let it go."
A late sprint charge by Wisconsin came up well short.
"The teams that we raced against today are the gold-standard in the country," Ramirez said. "We were more intimidated before we rowed the heat yesterday, but today we were much more confident."
The Badgers finished in 7:37.107, followed by boats from Bucknell, Radcliffe, Stanford and Georgetown.
Wisconsin entered the race as the No. 1 ranked lightweight boat in the nation.
Earlier in the day, the Loyola Men's Varsity Four boat wrapped up its season with a third-place finish in the third final of the event.
Nick Miano, Ryan Walsh, Marc Hesse, Maciej Owsianny and coxswain Thomas Quinn finished in 6:44.292 to take the third spot behind Harvard and Holy Cross. St. Joseph's, Navy and Drexel rounded out the final in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
"To be able to beat Navy, Drexel and St. Joe's is really big," Ramirez said. "Our fours raced really well today. The three seniors really went out in style."
Check out the championship medals:
