Twin sisters
Isabella and
Zoe Durcak remain undefeated in the women's lightweight double race for the Brock Badgers.
The Durcaks won gold during the Head of the Trent Regatta, the second leg of the Ontario university rowing schedule, under sunny skies in Peterborough on Saturday, Sept. 30.
The winding 4.6-kilometre course remained flat throughout the day, including the lightweight women's double race at the end of the race schedule. It was the Brock sisters' third event of the day after placing third in the lightweight women's four and second in the women's eight.
"We are really happy with our performance this early on in the season," said
Isabella Durcak, a third-year Accounting student. "This weekend gave us a chance to see where we are at amongst some of our competitors, so securing a win was exciting and gives us motivation as we push into heavy training leading up to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships."
The Durcaks recorded a time of 18 minutes and four seconds to outpace second-place Western Hayley by almost 40 seconds.
The duo from Stoney Creek won gold in the lightweight women's double the previous weekend in Guelph.
"We knew if we stayed relaxed and trusted in our training we would have an amazing race, and we did," said
Zoe Durcak, a third-year Business student. "The Head of the Trent isn't a straight two-kilometre race down buoyed lanes, so not only did we have to consider going fast, but also be mindful of steering the course and maneuvering around boats in front of us. Bella guided us down the course flawlessly."
Brock's women's eight secured silver behind Toronto. The crew consists of the Durcaks, coxswain
Serafina Dell,
Jalyn Mowry,
Erin Broski,
Genavieve Jopling,
Hannah Broderick,
Rowan O'Neill and
Samantha Wimbush.
The women's four of Mowry, Broski, Jopling, Broderick and coxswain
Ryan Ciliska earned silver with a time of 18:35. Carleton placed first with a time of 18:15.
"Overall, the women's team enjoyed some very successful races this weekend and we are all really starting to come together in our crew boats, so I am excited to see how we can build upon last weekend and carry our successes forward into our upcoming races," added
Zoe Durcak.
2023 HEAD OF THE TRENT WOMEN'S ROWING RESULTS
Women's Lightweight Single
1 Queen's, 19:34
2 Ottawa, 19:49
3 Guelph, 19:52
4 Brock (Rowan O'Neill), 20:14
Women's Eight
1 Toronto, 16:25
2 Brock (Serafina Dell, Zoe Durcak, Isabella Durcak, Jalyn Mowry, Erin Broski, Genavieve Jopling, Hannah Broderick, Rowan O'Neill, Samantha Wimbush), 17:03
3 Western, 17:05
Women's Junior Varsity Four
1 Carleton, 18:38
2 Ottawa, 19:23
3 Western, 20:09
4 Brock (Ashlee McGrath, Mia Biancaniello, Maya Gaston, Elizabeth Spilotro, Emma Quinn), 20:13
7 Brock (Olivia Drava, Ginger Woods, Sara Ribero Pinto, Alexandra Carvalho, Megan Wakefield), 23:44
Women's Junior Varsity Double
1 McMaster, 20:03
2 Montreal, 20:31
3 Brock, 20:32 (Sophia McQueen, Gina Pieneman), 20:32
Women's Four
1 Carleton, 18:15
2 Brock (Ryan Ciliska, Jalyn Mowry, Erin Broski, Genavieve Jopling, Hannah Broderick), 18:35
3 Western, 18:39
Women's Lightweight Four
1 Queen's, 17:28
2 Western, 18:22
3 Brock (Serafina Dell, Zoe Durcak, Isabella Durcak, Rowan O'Neill, Samantha Wimbush), 18:25
Women's Novice Eight
1 Trent, 15:02
2 Western, 15:09
3 McGill, 15:18
13 Brock (Ashlee McGrath, Sarah Chong, Delane Clark, Shayna Feldbloom, Jasmine Klunder, Katie MacMillan, Chlow Monast, Julia Ragozzino), 17:52
Women's Double
1 Queen's, 18:41
2 Western, 19:06
3 Trent, 19:14
10 Brock (Cara Scott, Olivia Sommer), 20:26
Women's Lightweight Double
1 Brock (Zoe Durcak, Isabella Durcak), 18:04
2 Western, 18:41
3 Queen's, 18:54
