Orange Excels at Head of the Genesee

Saturday, October 15

Rochester, N.Y.

All Day

Syracuse University

Head of the Genesee

The Orange was the runner-up to Cornell in the women's open eight at Saturday's Head of the Genesee.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

10/16/2011 11:52:08 AM | Women's Rowing

Results | Boatings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Orange women's rowing team kicked off the 2011-12 season with a successful showing at the Head of the Genesee Regatta on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Genesee Waterways Center. Syracuse crews captured first and second place in the women's open four race, and took second in the women's open eight competition.

For SU assistant coach Alicea Kochis it was an exciting and encouraging start to the season.

“It was a very good opening race for us,” Kochis said. “The racing was aggressive and the boats did a good job of executing. All the boats met the objectives we set for them, especially following the morning races.”

The Head of the Genesee features a unique head race/sprint format. Crews compete in a 3.1 mile morning head race followed by a 1,500-meter sprint in the afternoon. The winners are determined by multiplying the 1,500-meter time by three and adding it to the 3.1 mile time.

In the women's open four, Syracuse's first varsity boat overcame heavy winds to emerge victorious. Led by seniors Allison Todd (coxswain), Keriann Miller (stroke) and Naomi Carlson, the Orange recorded the fastest time in the afternoon sprint (5:27.23) on its way to the division's top overall time (35:27.72).

Finishing right behind them, in the second place, was Syracuse's second varsity four. Like their teammates, the second varsity four crew turned in a solid showing in the sprint, crossing the line one second behind SU's top four and recording a total score of 36:00.31.

The Orange had planned to enter a third boat in the fours competition, but that crew was a last-minute scratch because of injury.

In the women's open eight, Syracuse was assessed a 30-second penalty for missing buoys during the head race and found itself in fourth place heading into the sprint competition. Despite the handicap, the Orange persevered and placed second overall thanks to a strong 1,500-meter performance. Syracuse posted the second-fastest sprint time in the field (4:48.24) behind Cornell and came in second to the Big Red overall with a mark of 31:49.12.

After a week off from competition, the SU oarswomen will look to build on its season-opening performance Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Princeton Chase.