May 13, 2005

Aramark Sprints

The Duke rowing team travels to Oak Ridge, Tenn., this weekend to compete in the Aramark Sprints, the ninth-annual Central/South Region Championships. Racing will take place May 14 & 15 on Melton Hill Lake with crews competing in the Open 4+, Novice 8+, Varsity 4+, Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 8+.

"We would really like to challenge our limits at Regionals," said head coach Robyn Horner. "We're seeded No. 14 in the Varsity 8+ and No. 11 in the 2V8+, so we'd really like to attack each of our races and exceed our personal expectations and those of our peers."

The Aramark Sprints is the only regatta of its kind in the NCAA and the competition is relegated to intercollegiate programs that compete in either the Central or South Region. This weekend there will be 21 teams in competition at Melton Hill Lake, which was chosen as the site of the inaugural competition in 1997 and has hosted ever since. It was selected by the coaches because of its geographically centralized location and its recognition as one of the nation's best courses.

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association will provide live up to the minute race results for this weekend's Aramark Sprints at http://www.orra.org/. More information on the Aramark Sprints, including a schedule, list of participants and the scoring system can be found in pdf format at

Last season, Duke placed 11th in the team standings with 207 points. The Blue Devils top finish came in 2000, when Horner's crew placed fifth overall. Duke won the Novice 8+ and finished second in the 2N8+ in 2000.

Duke Lineups

V8 - Sarah Shapiro (c) - Tonia Boock, Gwen Coleman, Emma Darling, Lia Hart, Julie Stuart, Christine Lauro, Alissa Van Arnam, Emily Herrington

2V8 - Katie Tobin (c) - Iraina Miles, Lauren Case, Leah Frank-Finney, Natalie Zervas, Kim Gordon, Caroline Wray, Julia Gelfand, Kate Kearney

N8 - Samantha Prouty (c) - Megan O'Connell, Liz Martin, Fran Polvere, Caroline Morrow, Bonnie Gregory, Emma Wallace, Jessica Zinck, Courtney Stull

Open 4 - Marion Penning (c) - Katie Hutcheson, Meghan O'Toole, Fiona O'Sullivan, Leisha Elmore