Before the rowing race against North Carolina in the Lake Michie Invitational, coach Robyn Horner said, "I am really looking for our team to make a statement this weekend.... I believe we can be very successful."
Horner's team did indeed make a strong statement, soundly defeating its archrival Saturday. Although rowing is only a third-year varsity program at Duke, the team captured three of the four races against the Tar Heels in this early-season matchup.
Duke began the morning well, winning the varsity-four race by 29 seconds. Star sophomore rowers Amelia Booth, Caroline Diemar, Joanna Hingle and Katie Lakin, along with senior coxswain Yng-Ru Chen, finished the 4,000-meter course in 17:58. Duke also placed third and fifth out of seven boats in this race.
Following the dominating performance in the varsity four, Duke's varsity-eight boat defeated UNC by 31 seconds in a time of 16:29. The Blue Devils also captured third place, with the Tar Heels claiming second and fourth. Duke won this race last year by only one second, but the program has grown tremendously after a full year of experience for last year's rowers and another strong recruiting class.
Freshman Courtney Triffletti, one of only two first-year rowers in the varsity-four and varsity-eight races, was impressed, but not surprised, by her team's dominance.
"We've worked really hard in practice and we deserve this win," she said. "We have a lot of young recruits and some great experienced rowers."
The Blue Devils' only loss of the day came in the single scull race. The performance of Tar Heel senior Erin Neppels was the lone highlight of the day for UNC. Neppels defeated all five of Duke's single boats with a time of 21:25. Finishing second was Duke junior Maren Betts-Sonstegard (22:18).
Duke wrapped up the day on a strong note in the pairs race. The Blue Devils came in first, second, fourth and fifth places out of eight boats. Top rowers Hingle and Lakin won with a time of 19:35, nearly a minute ahead of UNC's first boat.
Much of the Blue Devils' success, coach Horner believes, is a result of an intense work ethic.
"The team really made an effort to step up to the next level with their training this summer and it really shows," she said. "I couldn't have asked for better early-season performances against UNC."
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