Rowing Places Fourth Overall At Sunshine State Invite

Saturday, March 30

Sarasota, Fla.

8 AM

North Carolina

Sunshine State Invitational

UNC's varsity four (l to r): Lucy Rush, Kenzie Gartland, Sydney Tuck, Anna Lily Laborde and coxswain Cara Cunningham.

March 30, 2024 | Women's Rowing

Results

SARASOTA, Fla. – With all three boats racing in grand finals on Saturday morning, the North Carolina rowing team placed fourth overall in the final team standings at the Sunshine State Invitational, a two-day event at Nathan Benderson Park. Miami won the Benderson Cup with 128 points, followed by UCF with 123, Iowa with 121 and then UNC at 105.

The Tar Heel varsity four, which turned in the second-fastest overall time in Friday's heats, finished second in the grand final in 7:14.55, behind only UCF, which took first in 7:13.57.

Representing Carolina in the varsity four were Cara Cunningham (coxswain), Lucy Rush, Kenzie Gartland, Sydney Tuck and Anna Lily Laborde.

UNC's second varsity eight was fifth in its grand final in a time of 6:47.41.

Racing in the second varsity eight were Lauren Walsh (coxswain), Molly Dansby, Gigi Maroney, Camryn Gang, Astrid Gruber, Mimi Brown, Chloe Gaither, Madison Haller and Lydia Houle.

Carolina's varsity eight was seventh in 6:45.17.

Competing in the varsity eight were Alix de Saint-Aignan (coxswain), Claudia Quintaba, Evie Wells, Molly Warden, Cam Howard, Maddie Johnson, Carmen Sagues, Natalie Timinskas and Lindsey Troftgruben.

"Sunshine State was a really positive experience overall," UNC coach Erin Neppel said. "We were pleased to have all crews earn spots in the grand finals, and we were able to have some very close races with fast teams. We do need to continue to develop our top-end speed, and we're ready to jump right back in Monday.

"Huge shout out to the varsity 4+ who had the performance of the weekend and who brought home the first hardware in a long time for Carolina Rowing. Job very well done."

Next up for the Tar Heels is the GW Invitational on April 12-13 in Washington, D.C.

Sunshine State Invitational Benderson Cup Standings
1. Miami, 128
2. UCF, 123
3. Iowa, 121
4. UNC, 105
5. Michigan State, 104
6. Tulsa, 99
7. Boston College, 98
8. Jacksonville, 81
9. Kansas, 81
10. Louisville, 80
11. Kansas State, 75
12. Drexel, 72
13. UMass, 71
14. West Virginia, 56
15. ODU, 52
16. Stetson, 46

V8 Grand Final
1. Miami 6:33.69; 2. Iowa 6:34.95; 3. Tulsa 6:36.49; 4. UCF 6:39.19; 5. Boston College 6:42.41; 6. Michigan State 6:44.17; 7. UNC 6:45.17; 8. Drexel 6:46.81

2V8 Grand Final
1. UCF 6:38.58; 2. Miami 6:39.88; 3. Iowa 6:41.00; 4. Michigan State 6:46.57; 5. UNC 6:47.41; 6. Kansas 6:50.58; 7. Boston College 6:51.18; 8. Louisville 6:52.24

V4 Grand Final
1. UCF 7:13.57; 2. UNC 7:14.55; 3. Miami 7:14.92; 4. Kansas State 7:15.38; 5. Iowa 7:17.66; 6. UMass 7:22.91; 7. Jacksonville 7:27.97; 8. Michigan State 7:28.17