The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1 Rowing’s I Eight earns Big 12 Boat of the Week honors
05.01.2024 | Rowing
The Longhorns’ First Eight collected the honor for the second time this season.
IRVING, Texas – No. 1 Texas Rowing's First Eight was named the Big 12 Boat of the Week, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The Longhorns were selected for the weekly honor after defeating then-No. 1 and defending national champion Stanford at the Longhorn Invite on Saturday. It marked the second time this season in which Texas' I Eight has earned the honor and the third time overall for the Longhorns.
The Texas I Eight featured senior coxswain Carly Legenzowski, as well as graduate student Mette Nielsen, graduate student, Lanie Nitsch, senior Anna Jensen, graduate student Etta Carpender, sophomore Marg Van der Wal, sophomore Abby Dawson, fifth-year Cassandre Korvink-Kucinski and senior Amber Harwood.
UT defeated defending First Eight national champion Stanford in head-to-head competition at the Longhorn Invite, while also topping the times of Virginia and Ohio State.
Racing was impacted by high crosswinds of 10-14 mph on the course and gusts of 20 mph, forcing an adjusted schedule in which the teams' three NCAA boats – First Eight, Second Eight, First Four – competed in two heats instead of one grand final.
Texas came away with the victory in the I Eight, crossing the line in 6:00.969 to win by open water over a Stanford crew that posted a time of 6:03.353. The Cardinal were in front at the midway mark, but Texas surged over the final half of the course to top Stanford. Ohio State was the winner in heat two, posting a time of 6:20.922 with Virginia taking second in 6:26.766.
The Texas I Eight previously earned conference Boat of the Week honors after a dominating performance at the San Diego Crew Classic, while the II Eight collected the accolade after an impressive victory at No. 9 Michigan.
On deck for Texas is the Big 12 Rowing Championship where the Longhorns will seek a ninth consecutive Big 12 title. The regatta will be held on Sunday, May 19 in Sarasota, Fla. at Nathan Benderson Park, the site where the Longhorns won the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
