Oct. 4, 2014 EVENT RESULTS
OKLAHOMA CITY (SMU) -- For the second-straight year, the SMU rowing team has earned the top spot in the Novice/Frosh 8+ event at the Head of the Oklahoma.
This year's Freshman 8 crew clocked in at 15:24 for a commanding victory in a field of 15 crews. The Mustangs' closest competition, Kansas State, crossed the finish line in 16:05 to be named runner up. Central Oklahoma was the only other crew within one minute of SMU's finish.
The Ponies also had a second crew in the Novice/Frosh 8+ event that finished sixth out of 15.
"Today was a good day of racing," Head Coach Doug Wright said. "I am really pleased with both our freshman/novice crews. They both raced really hard and made a nice step forward into becoming tough, solid rowers for our team."
In Lightweight 2x action, SMU posted a fourth place finish for another one of its three top-five finishes, clocking in at 18:05. The third top-five finish came from junior Jonnie Parmer in the Lightweight 1x event, as she posted a 20:01.
The Open 1x event featured senior Chantelle Conley crossing the finish line in 18:44 and freshman Alyssa Sands just behind at 18:52, for seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Varsity Collegiate 8+ event saw SMU's first varsity 8 crew secure a ninth-place finish out of 18 competing teams, while the second varsity eight finished 15th.
Wrapping up results, the Mustangs entered a pair of crews in the Collegiate 4+ event, earning 11th- and 17th-place finished out of 26 total competing crews.
"We have a young team and we're still working on feeling the boats," Wright said. "I think as we progress through the fall we will get faster. As a group, we are more fit than previous years, but our boat moving skills need to improve. Having the fitness is only half the battle.
"We have a few weeks before the next head race in Austin. We will use that time to increase our speed by improving the technical aspects of the stroke."
SMU is back in action when they travel to the Head of the Colorado in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25. Check SMUMustangs.com for ways to follow.
