After placing second in the ACC Championship last weekend, the fatigued Blue Devils finished with "bitter and sweet" results in a meet with Miami and Barry University Saturday on the Krome Avenue Quarry.
The Blue Devils' first varsity eight edged the Hurricanes by just 0.51 seconds, winning the 2,000 meter race with a time of 6:29.90.
Duke's first varsity eight had a flat start and gave Miami a boat-length lead at the end of the first 1,000 meters. The Blue Devils, however, managed to pull off an impressive chase in the third split and carried the momentum through the last 500 meters to win.
"The exciting thing I saw in that is them being really tired and just totally gutting it out," head coach Robyn Horner said. "I thought they rowed with composure and they rowed well."
Duke's second varsity eight experienced a similar situation but a different result. The Blue Devils could not find their power rhythm in the first 500 meters and fell behind Miami by more than a boat-length. Despite tremendous effort in the last 500 meters, the Blue Devils lost to Miami by 0.47 seconds with a time of 6:48.16. Even though they lost, the time was the best of the season for the Blue Devils.
"Our performance can be characterized as bitter and sweet," junior coxswain Katie Tobin said. "It was unfortunate that we had a half of a perfect race and half of less-than-ideal race."
In the first and second varsity four, Duke raced together with Miami and Barry University. Miami captured the win with a time of 7:38.97 to Duke's 7:46.04. Barry placed third while Duke's second varsity four finished fourth with a time of 8:29.06.
"We used the race as a training tool, " team captain Emma Darling said.
Since returning from the ACC Championship, the Blue Devils have trained hard in anticipation of the South/Central Regional Championships, which will be held from May 12 to 14 at Oak Ridge, Tenn.
"We are ready to go," Horner said. "The kids are technically in a good spot. They are mentally in a good spot. We are probably most ready that we have ever been."
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