Kemphaus to Compete at World Indoor Rowing Championships
February 18, 2003 | Rowing
Feb. 18, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville junior Allison Kemphaus has been named to the Concept2 USA Indoor Rowing Team and will compete this weekend at the C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championships.
The event will be held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College in Boston on Sunday.
Kemphaus, one of the top collegiate lightweight rowers in the nation and a co-captain for the 2003 Cardinals, qualified for the prestigious event after winning the Women's Lightweight 2000m erg race with a time of 7:29.1 at the Cincinnati Indoor Rowing Championships two weeks ago. In order to advance to Boston, one must beat the qualifying time of 7:30.
The Fort Wright, Ky., native will be looking to improve upon that mark and top her personal-best 2K erg time of 7:23.4.
"Allison is very deserving of this honor," said U of L head coach Richard Ruggieri. "Her dedication and drive is obvious as an individual and teammate. We are very fortunate to have Allison represent the University of Louisville each and every day."
This past fall, Kemphaus guided U of L to four gold medals in addition to a third-place finish at the Head of the Charles, the largest two-day rowing event in the world.
Last year, Kemphaus was named U of L's Varsity Oars Woman of the Year and was selected to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) South Region Second Team. She was named to the Verizon Academic District IV At-Large Third Team and also received CRCA Scholar Athlete honors.
Kemphaus is a five-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member and a two-time Red and Black Scholar-Athlete. As a freshman, she received the Cardinal Pride Award, which is given annually to the top student-athlete on the rowing team.
The CRASH-B's (Charles River All-Star Has-Beens) began with a group of 1976-80 U.S. Olympic and World Team athletes who rowed on the Charles River. With the 1980 U.S. boycott of the Olympics, a few individuals formed a fun little regatta of about 20 rowers to break up the monotony of winter training. Within a few short years, the event grew into the international world indoor rowing championships it is now.
The 2000m-race is rowed on the latest Concept2 Model C ergometers, which are used by athletes of universities, clubs, schools and national teams around the globe.
The top 10 women in the Lightweight Heats proceed to the International Lightweight Finals; while the top 10 enrolled in college who do not make the International final proceed to the Collegiate Lightweight Final.
