HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- In what has become a good rivalry between these two Sunshine State Conference South Florida schools, Barry's and Nova Southeastern's rowing crews went neck-and-neck.
Literally to the finish.
Nova beat Barry in a photo finish Saturday in the Nova-Barry duals varsity 8+ race that was as good as it gets over the last 500 meters of the 2,000-meter course.
The Buccaneers crew of coxswain Grace Horwitz (Chicago, Ill.), Rebekah Kilroy (Sykesville, Md.), Mandy Carper (Dover, N.H.), Kelly Harrison (Fairfax, Va.), Courtney Greene (Miami, Fla.), Kasia Walentynowicz (Warsaw, Poland), Renee Forcier (New London, N.H.), Helene Pierre (North Lauderdale, Fla.) and Kristina Boncheva (Sotia, Bulgaria) trailed the Sharks by a boat length with 500 meters to go.
Barry made up ground, racing a phenomenal second half of the course against the current towards the Hollywood Boulevard bridge finish. Results were so close it required a computer finish to review. Official times were not immediately available, but after reviewing the photo finish, it was determined Barry lost by roughly a foot or .04 seconds.
Barry crossed the finish line in 8:14.74. Nova's crew nosed out the Buccaneers in 8:14.70.
It's a rarity for a crew to make up nearly a boat length against the current in 500 meters.
Nova Southeastern's 4+ squad beat Barry's crew of bow Samantha McKenzie (Sharon, Conn.), Ashante Richard (Miami), Jen Feriozzi (Margate, N.J.), stroke Haley Stark (Winter Park, Fla.) and cox Savanna Luberto (Boynton Beach, Fla.) in the earlier race.
The Bucs, racing against the headwind, rowed to a time of 10:15.4. Nova finished in 9:00.9.
Barry will race in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in Oakridge, Tenn., April 21-22.