Nov. 6, 2011
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - It was an impressive regatta for the Old Dominion women's rowing team at the Head of the Hooch this weekend with the Lady Monarch's Lightweight 4+ capturing first place and ODU taking second in the Women's Open 8+.
The Head of the Hooch Regatta is a 5,000 meter (3.1 mile) head race on the Tennessee River that is the second-largest rowing race in the country.
"This was an outstanding effort from the beginning of the regatta to the end," said head coach Dan Garbutt. "I'm very proud of all of the Lady Monarchs. To have all three boats perform so well with little preparation is an impressive task."
The Women's Lightweight 4 dominated the competition taking the top position in the race by 18 seconds. The Lady Monarchs finished the course in a time of 18:24.1 with second place Tulsa clocking in at 18:42.6. Last season, Tulsa's Lightweight 4+ placed sixth at the IRA National Championships.
The Old Dominion boat consisted of coxswain Allison Giegerich, Heather Earle, Laurel Bransfield, Kiersten Stephens, and Kelly McHale.
In the Women's Open 8+, the Lady Monarchs placed second behind Texas, who last season had won its third-straight Big 12 Rowing Championship and captured its first Conference USA Rowing title The Lady Monarchs crossed the finish line in a time of 16:54.0, edging out third place Louisville by .1 second. The Cardinals' varsity eight boat captured last year's Big East title. The Longhorns won the race with a time of 16:44.4.
In the boat for the Lady Monarchs were coxswain Allison Giegerich, Abby Voss, Callie Roadcap, Maeghan Pardy, Paige Madison, Kiersten Stephens, Shannon Huff, Laurel Bransfield, and Heather Earle.
The Old Dominion women's rowing team wraps up its fall schedule next weekend at the Rivanna Romp in Charlottesville.
HEAD OF THE HOOCH RESULTS:
Women's Lightweight 4+
1.Old Dominion - 18:24.1
2.Tulsa A - 18:42.6
3. Orlando Rowing Club - 19:18.2
4.Georgia - 19:38.0
5.Tulsa B - 19:52.8
Women's Championship 8+
1. Tennessee - 16:04.2
2. Texas A - 16:04.4
3. Duke A - 16:15.4
4. Texas B - 16:27.9
5. Louisville A - 16:28.9
10. Old Dominion - 16:45.7
Women's Open 8+
1.Texas A - 16:44.4
2.Old Dominion - 16:54.0
3.Louisville A - 16:54.1
4.Alabama A - 17:01.4
5.Miami A - 17:01.4
11. Old Dominion B - 17:52.8
14. Old Dominion C - 18:14.4