KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island's boats each showed significant improvement in the second of two sets of races at the Clemson Invite Saturday.
Facing a field that included eight of the top 20 teams in the country, the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ boats were grouped with No. 5 UCLA, No. 13 Michigan, No. 14 Clemson, Texas and Indiana in the morning races. For the evening, Rhody's heats included No. 18 Louisville, Michigan State, Tennessee, Indiana and Minnesota.
The Rams received a consistent showing from its Varsity 4+ boat, which finished 14th out of 19 teams during both sessions. The team of Kaitlyn Rupert, Chloe Beach, Jess Bergen, Hannah Milam and cox Avery Cohen finished its first race in 7:45.3, which was good for fourth place in its heat. The team lowered its time to 7:35.5 and placed fifth in its heat.
The Varsity 8+ placed 18th out of 19 teams during the morning session, during which it posted a time of 6:54.9. The team of Anne Mulholland, Ari Wakeman, Kari Tomeny, Lindsay Stephenson, Meghan Sickinger, Lotte Sherman, Kate Capistran, Alice Murray and cox Kris Hudak lowered its time by 20 seconds in the evening. Rhody moved up three spots, placing 16th out of 19 teams in the later session.
The Second Varsity 8+ team of Anne Edwards, Marisa Landry, Quinn Snyder, Alyssa Goley, Hannah Johnson, Lauren Carter, Celine Gill, Sophia Labeko and cox Chelsea Paulin was 18th out of 19 teams in both sessions. The team was 7.7 seconds faster in the evening race.
The entire field will be back on Lake Hartwell Sunday morning for one more set of races. Rhode Island's heats tomorrow will include No. 3 Virginia, Penn, Indiana, Tennessee, and Miami (Fla.). The Varsity 8+ will start at 8:07 a.m., the Second Varsity 8+ will be at 8:28 a.m. and the Varsity 4+ will go off at 8:49 a.m.
