Women's crew competes against Purdue at Challenge Cup
Pioneers to host 15th annual Marietta Invitational on April 4

March 28, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Marietta College women’s crew resumed its season Saturday (March 28) afternoon with a race against Purdue University in the 2009 Challenge Cup on the Eagle Creek Reservoir, the site of the 1994 World Championships.

The Pioneers and the Boilermakers went head-to-head in two races, the Varsity 8+ and the Varsity 4+. Marietta finished runner-up in both events on the 1,500m course.

Marietta’s Varsity 8+, which sat freshman stroke Kelli Barnette (Parkersburg, W.Va./South), freshman Elizabeth Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Basil Academy), sophomore Katherine Thomas (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel Area), junior Caitlin Piotrowski (Dublin/Dublin Jerome), senior Amanda Chuderewicz (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area), sophomore Megan Stuhlfauth (Hainesport, N.J./Merion Mercy Academy), senior Krista Tkacz (Egg Harbor Twp, N.J), sophomore bow Miki Abitante (Columbia, Md./Atholton) and junior coxswain Lauren Talasnik (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest), stuck to its race plan and finished with a time of 5:42.2. Purdue “A” won the race in 5:22.75, while Purdue “B” took third in 5:43.8.

“The women felt really good when they came off the water,” Head Coach Kelly Harris said. “While we were hoping to be a little closer to Purdue than we turned out to be, they executed the race plan well and were aggressive on the water. I am pleased with our progressive at this point in the season.”

The Pioneers’ Varsity 4+ also showed improvement since taking the water at the Mayor’s Cup on March 14. Sophomore stroke Brooke Exley (Phoenixville, Pa.), Bratton, sophomore Michelle Tarracciano (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley Union), freshman bow Jessica Amato (Shelby) and freshman coxswain Sara McDaniel (Laura/Milton-Union) covered the course in 6:39.5. The Boilermakers finished in 6:19.7.

“The V 4+ has spent much less time on the water together but was still able to row a solid race,” Harris said. “The ladies gave a good effort and were also happy with their performance when they came off the water today.”

Marietta will return to action on Saturday (April 4) morning when the Pioneers host 11 schools for the 15th annual Marietta Invitational on the Muskingum River. Action is slated to begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the afternoon.