Florida Tech Heavyweight 4+ Rowing Team Advance to Grand Final at IRA National Championship
By Christina Hardman, Florida Tech News Bureau // June 4, 2022
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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech men’s rowing team hit the water for the opening day of the 2022 IRA National Championship Regatta at Mercer Lake in Princeton, N.J.
The V4+ posted strong performances throughout the day to earn a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final.
The regatta got underway Friday morning with a pair of time trials. Led by graduate coxswain Ben Komita, the Varsity 4+ posted the second-best time in the time trials (6:10.921) to claim a spot in the semifinals.
Following the V4+, the Lightweight 4+ secured their position in the semifinals crossing the finish line with a time of 6:29.609.
In the semifinals, the Varsity 4+ claimed the top spot in their heat to advance to Saturday’s Grand Final. National powerhouses Harvard and Cal got out to early leads, but the Panthers stayed no less than half a boat length behind.
After overtaking the golden bears at the 1250-meter mark, Tech found their speed and pushed into first for the final 500.
The Panthers posted a mark of 6:21.415, following and claiming the final spot in the grand finals was Harvard with a time of 6:22.235.
Racing out of lane two in the semis, the Lightweight 4+ finished ahead of Mercyhurst in 6:44.866 and will race in Saturday’s Petite Final. Navy took first (6:18.506) followed by Dartmouth (6:20.032), Columbia (6:23.606), Yale (6:27.262), and Georgetown (6:33.534).
VARSITY 4+
■ 4 / Arnedas Kelmelis
■ 3 / Justas Kuskevicius
■ 2 / Domantas Marocka
■ Bow / Jackson Moore
■ Coxswain / Ben Komita
LIGHTWEIGHT 4+
■ 4 / Thomas Francis
■ 3 / Jaden Krekow
■ 2 / Dimitrios Karademitros
■ Bow / Gennaro Zappariello
■ Coxswain / Eliza Osborn
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will now take aim at Saturday’s Grand Final against Harvard, Dartmouth, Washington, Princeton, and Georgetown, which is set to take place at 11:30 a.m.
The Petite Final of the Lightweight 4+ will take place earlier in the morning at 11 am.
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