By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Willamette University rowing team competed in the Women's Collegiate 8+ at Row for the Cure on Sunday, Sept. 27 on the Willamette River in downtown Portland. It was the first regatta of the 2015-16 season for the Bearcats.

Willamette was the only team entered in the Women's Collegiate 8+. The Bearcats achieved a time of 22:15.2 despite racing by sixes for roughly the final half of the 5,000-meter course due to equipment failure. The weather was comfortable for rowing, and the water was very mild with a tail wind from the start. The course featured a 180-degree turn with a mild head wind on the return.

The problem with equipment didn't stop the Bearcats. Kyra Farr (Fr., C, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) was the coxswain of Willamette's 8+. Rowers were Abby Bernhard (Sr./So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) at stroke, Carrie Moore (Sr./So., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS) at 7-seat, Ingrid Avila (Sr./So., Redwood City, CA/Summit Prep) at 6-seat, Miranda Martin (So., St. Louis, MO/Ladue Horton Watkins HS) at 5-seat, Angela Witty (Sr./So., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) at 4-seat, Julia Di Simone (Sr./So., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep) at 3-seat, Elsa Roush (Sr./So., Jackson Hole, WY/Jackson Hole HS) at 2-seat, and Sarah Fish (Sr., P/S, Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy) at bow.

Willamette rowed in the same grouping as two boats competing in the Women's Master's 8+. The master's boats were timed separately.

In addition to bringing the Portland community a regatta with junior's, master's and collegiate competition, Row for the Cure also raises funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Oregon and SW Washington. The Willamette women's rowing team was directly responsible for raising $415.

The next regatta on the Bearcats' schedule is the American Lake Fall Classic, set for Sunday, Oct. 18 at American Lake in Tacoma, Wash.