Virginia Claims Eighth Annual ACC Rowing Championship

April 21, 2007

Clemson, SC - The University of Virginia rowing team claimed the eighth annual ACC Championship on Saturday at Lake Hartwell. The Cavaliers swept all four races on a beautiful, sunny morning in Clemson, SC. Virginia has won the ACC Championship all eight years it has been held.

The Cavaliers won the team title with 60 points, followed by Clemson in second with 46 points. The third place team on Saturday was Duke with 43 points, followed by Miami with 25. In fifth, Boston College again took that position with 23 points. North Carolina was sixth with 13.

The first race of the morning was the varsity 4+. Virginia placed first in a time of 7:31.6, with Clemson second at 7:48.4. Duke came in third place with a time of 7:58.6, while Miami was fourth in 8:00.9. Boston College (8:10.3) and North Carolina (8:10.9) were fifth and sixth, respectively, in a tight finish.

The novice 8+ was also claimed by the Cavaliers, with a time of 6:47.4. Clemson crossed the line in second place after a time of 7:06.3. The Tar Heels of North Carolina came through with their best finish of the day, posting a time of 7:10.6 in their third-place effort. Duke was fourth at 7:22.5, while Boston College (7:25.6) and Miami (8:06.8) rounded out the field.

In the second varsity 8+, Virginia won with a time of 6:36.7. Clemson earned its third runner-up finish of the day with a time of 6:48.9. Duke placed third overall at 6:51.2, while Boston College finished fourth at 6:55.5. The Hurricanes were fifth (6:55.6), with North Carolina coming in sixth (7:14.7).

The final race of the morning was the varsity 8+. The Cavaliers took the lead for good by the 500m mark and never looked back, winning with a time of 6:28.1. Duke outlasted Clemson in an incredible sprint finish between the two schools. The Blue Devils clocked in at 6:33.5, while the Tigers had a time of 6:33.8. Miami placed fourth (6:40.2), while Boston College took home fifth (6:41.7). North Carolina was sixth (6:55.4) in the varsity 8+ race.

The 14-member All-ACC team was comprised of coxswain Caitlin Mixter (Virginia), Melanie Kok (Virginia), Sara Lippa (Virginia), Libby McCann (Virginia), Anna Samaha (Virginia), Emma Darling (Duke), Emily Herrington (Duke), Alissa Van Arnam (Duke), Sarah Cooper (Clemson), Suzanne Van Fleet (Clemson), Laura Cordner (Miami), Laura Coltman (Miami), Bridget Regan (Boston College), and Lisy McIntee (North Carolina).

Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer was named ACC Coach of the Year, the fourth time he has been honored as the league's top mentor. Virginia's first varsity 8+ earned ACC Crew of the Year honors. That squad consisted of coxswain Caitlin Mixter, Jennifer Cromwell, Melanie Kok, Libby McCann, Emelia Colman-Shepherd, Lauren Hutchins, Kelsie Chaudoin, Sara Lippa, and Anna Samaha. In the first-ever vote for Freshman of the Year, Cavalier varsity 8+ member Jennifer Cromwell was accorded the honor.