University of Massachusets Athletics
Varsity 8 Is Second In California Cup Final
April 07, 2002 | Women's Crew
April 7, 2002
AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts women's varsity 8 boat finished second to 17th-ranked Duke in the finals of the California Cup, here today at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic.
UMass recorded a time of 6:49.87, just behind Duke's first-place clocking (6:43.40) and just ahead of Southern Methodist (6:51.56) and Kansas State (6:52.65). Duke had recorded the fastest time (6:51.80) in yesterday's first round, while UMass had turned in the third-fastest mark at 6:58.37, but both teams improved on those marks in today's final.
"My team surprised me again today, they really figured it out," UMass coach Jim Dietz said. "This is a good indication of our speed, and a very good start for us."
The Massachusetts boat lineup included coxswain Megan Mastropolo (Old Tappan, N.J.), Lea Jakobsen (Copenhagen, Denmark), Sarah Pollmann (Hamm, Germany), Kate Bonner (Nashua, N.H.), Liz Robb (Falmouth, Mass.), Katie O'Brien (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Colleen Banfield (Billerica, Mass.), Hayley McGrath (Florence, Mass.) and Anna Talucci (West Chester, Pa.).
While the varsity 8 was competing in San Diego, other UMass boats took to the water against Connecticut and New Hampshire on Connecticut's Coventry Lake.
The Minutewomen won the second varsity 8 race in 7:05.3, beating New Hampshire (7:27.3) and UConn (7:32.6). UMass also claimed the novice 8 in 7:15.2, finishing ahead of UConn (7:25.9) and New Hampshire (7:26.7), and the second varsity 4 race in 8:02.8 to UConn's 8:27.7.
In the varsity 4, UConn nipped UMass, 8:29.3 to 8:37.4, while New Hampshire recorded a time of 7:41.6 to the Minutewomen's 7:48.3 to take the second novice 8 race.
UMass returns to action April 13-14 at the Kenecht Cup in Camden, N.J.
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