OCU Men prepare for San Diego Crew Classic

This weekend the Men’s Varsity 8+ travels to San Diego for their first appearance at the Crew Classic regatta. One of the biggest regattas on the West Coast the Crew Classic exclusively races 8-man boats providing a great spectacle of racing. It is the first time OCU have entered the race, and after a coach’s poll seeded the Stars in the top-3 of the 21-entry field it promises to be an exciting weekend. The crew of Jacob Fox, Jimmy von Peters, Jared Hooley, Edgars Boitmanis, Matt Mahon, Jake Lamb, John Riesenberg, Ryan Claussen and Kyle Adair will take the water with confidence after a solid Winter training and strong improvements on the rowing ergometer. The Heats take place on Saturday with the Finals on Sunday morning. The top 2 places of each heat will progress to the Grand Final.

Stay tuned for results of the weekend.

GO STARS!

3rd Annual Stroklahoma

The OCU women battled University of Central Oklahoma on the Oklahoma River for the 3rd meeting of the Stroklahoma Regatta capturing two of the three races.

In the most exciting race of the morning, the trophy race in the Eight (8+), OCU grabbed an early lead on their hometown rival which they held for the first 1200 meters of the 2000 meter racecourse. UCO made a move and took the lead with 700 meters to go. UCO overpowered their competitors in the sprint and won the race in 7:15.92 while the Stars finished just 1.17 seconds behind.

Rowers of the OCU Women's Eight (8+) quickly turned around for the Four (4+) and Singles (1x's) race. In an even tighter race, OCU jumped ahead off the start and held off UCO's last minute push in the sprint to win by half a second. OCU clocked a time of 8:24.94. In the Lightweight Women's 1x, Kat Schiro placed 3rd in 8:34.64 while her teammate, Jane Imfeld, clocked a 8:37.24.

In the final race of the day, OCU's Women's Lightweight Double (2x) of Shantel Wagner and Briana Hurley, took on UCO Novice Women's Eight (8+). The Stars rowed a 8:31.54 beating the Bronchos' 8:33.74.

At the conclusion of racing, OCU who is the 2009 and 2010 Stroklahoma Champion presented UCO with the trophy. Coach Borger said to the teams, "This hometown rivalry is not only fueld by our will to beat each other but is intensified by our friendship." The OCU Women will next race on Sunday, April 3rd at 10:00 am against Wichita State University on the Oklahoma River.

You are invited to the Devon Boathouse!

2012 I LONDON

Will you be ready?

Please join us for a 2012|Friends of the Oklahoma River reception to learn how you can become part of Oklahoma City’s community effort to support these U.S. Olympic hopefuls in both rowing and sprint kayaking. You’ll find their journeys fascinating. Their commitment, inspiring. [invitation]

Athletes at the OKC National High Performance Center are focused on being ready for the 2012 Olympic Games in London – and 2012 | Friends of the Oklahoma River is focused on supporting these Olympic hopefuls.

Today, more than 40 rowing and sprint kayaking athletes are training at the OKC National High Performance Center in hopes of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

You’ll find their journeys fascinating, their commitment inspiring. We invite you to learn how you can become part of the Oklahoma City’s community effort to support these U.S. Olympic hopefuls and become involved in all the exciting activities on the Oklahoma River.

Be ready to be part of the Olympic Dream!

Join us for Lunch at the Devon Boathouse

What: Blue-White Luncheon

Where: Devon Boathouse

When: Wednesday March 9th, 11:30 am

Who: OCU athletic department, friends, fans and family

Cost: $8 per person for lunch

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139052192779319&index=1

Pictures from Heart of Texas

OCU Continues Success in Texas

The Rowing Stars continued their success from the Fall with some great wins in the Heart of Texas regatta, in Austin. It was a great way for the OCU team to open their Spring season.

The morning was interrupted by strong winds and a brief storm and an amended schedule in the afternoon prevented the anticipated 1x showdown between Jimmy Von Peters, Edgars Boitmanis and Matt Maddamma. When racing resumed, the Men's Varsity 8+ had an impressive race in their prelude to the San Diego Crew Classic, posting a solid win over Texas in the shorter 1000m course. The momentum was continued by the Women as Kat Schiro and Jane Imfeld posted comfortable wins in their heats of the Women's 1x before the Final was also cancelled due to weather.

In the other sculling events OCU showed their dominance with wins in the Men and Women's Open Quads, and the Men's and Women's Open Doubles. The OCU Stars now prepare for their Spring Break training camp as the sprint racing season gets underway in what promises to be an exciting and eventful season.

GO STARS!