April 28, 2002

Worcester, Mass. - The 10th-ranked Notre Dame rowing team placed second with 109 points at the 2002 BIG EAST Rowing Challenge on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. Syracuse, ranked 13th in the nation, was first with 117 points followed by the Irish, Boston College (87 points), Georgetown (67 points) and Rutgers (64 points).

Notre Dame won one race on Sunday as the varsity four crew of coxswain Kathryn Long, Sarah Keefer, Kati Sedun, Elizabeth Specht and Maureen Carr took home the gold medal, by almost six seconds. The Irish finished in 7:27.40. Syracuse's first boat was second in 7:33.14, while the Orangewomen's second boat was third in 7:38.97. Notre Dame's second varisty four was fifth. Syracuse won four of six races today including the varsity eight, winning by six seconds over the Notre Dame crew of coxswain Cassie Markstahler, Jayme Szefc, Michelle Olsgard, Ashlee Warren, Becky Luckett, Diane Price, Natalie Ladine, Katie Besson and Katherine Burnett. Boston College finished 13.95 seconds behind Syracuse.

Notre Dame also finished second to the Orangemen in the second varsity eight, in what was the closest race of the day. Syracuse crossed the finish line in 7:04.15, while the Notre Dame crew of coxswain Kacy McCaffrey, Megan Feely, Kerri Murphy, Erica Drennen, Courtney Mercer, Jacqueline Hazen, Melissa Alberding, Kathleen Welsh and Danielle Protasewich was a close second in 7:04.70. Boston College was third, 17 seconds behind both Syracuse and Notre Dame, finishing in 7:21.95.

Syracuse also won the novice eight, finishing in 7:16.83. Notre Dame's crew of Maureen Gibbons (cox), Kristen Mizzi, Shannon Mohan, Rachel Polinski, Alice Bartek, Meredith Thornburgh, Christy Donnelly, Devon Hegeman and Katie Chenowith was second in 7:20.28, while Georgetown was third in 7:26.83.

The Irish crew of Erin Diminick (cox), Ann Mulligan, Tricia David, Tori Blainey, Jill Klima, Kristen Wright, Jennifer Connolly, Courtney Quinn and Beth Franzosa also finished second in the second novice eight race.

2002 BIG EAST WOMEN'S ROWING CHALLENGE FINAL RESULTS

Overall Team Standings
1. Syracuse 117
2. Notre Dame 109
3. Boston College 87
4. Georgetown 67
5. Rutgers 64
6. Miami 61
7. Villanova 49
8. Connecticut 47
9. West Virginia 20


Varsity Eight (Grand Final)
1. Syracuse NT
2. Notre Dame +6.07
3. Boston College +13.95
4. Villanova +14.83
5. Rutgers +28.08
6. West Virginia +29.06


Varsity Eight (Petite Final)
1 (7). Miami 7:08.21
2 (8). Connecticut 7:09.44
3 (9). Georgetown 7:29.19


Novice Eight (Grand Final)
1. Syracuse 7:16.83
2. Notre Dame 7:20.28
3. Georgetown 7:26.83
4. Rutgers 7:33.25
5. Boston College 7:36.73
6. Miami 8:09.31


Novice Eight (Petite Final)
1 (7). Connecticut 7:42.99
2 (8). Villanova 7:51.84
3 (9). West Virginia 8:12.94


Second Varsity Eight (Grand Final)
1. Syracuse 7:04.15
2. Notre Dame 7:04.70
3. Boston College 7:21.95
4. Miami 7:24.68
5. Connecticut 7:33.72
6. Georgetown 7:35.22


Second Varsity Eight (Petite Final)
1 (7). Villanova 7:37.97
2 (8). Rutgers 7:44.76


Second Novice Eight (Grand Final)
1. Boston College 7:33.90
2. Notre Dame 7:43.67
3. Georgetown 7:50.65
4. Villanova 8:10.12
5. West Virginia 8:15.34


Novice Four (Grand Final)
1. Syracuse 8:21.00
2. Rutgers 8:31.69
3. Georgetown 8:36.30
4. Miami 8:49.21
5. Connecticut 9:05.10


Varsity Four (Grand Final)
1. Notre Dame "A" 7:27.40
2. Syracuse "A" 7:33.14
3. Syracuse "B" 7:38.97
4. Georgetown 7:43.39
5. Notre Dame "B" 7:52.23
6. Boston College 8:01.72
7. Miami 8:02.12