Illinois Wins 5 Golds at Chicago Indoor

The University of Illinois Men’s and Women’s Rowing Clubs rowed at the Chicago Indoor Rowing Championship (CIRC) this Saturday at Chicago State University. The competition brings together university teams from across the Midwest, including BigTen rivals Northwestern, Purdue, and Michigan State among others. The competition consists of individual rowers racing a 2000m distance on indoor rowing machines with medals being awarded to the fastest athletes in each category. The event is capped by a 5x 500m team relay race.The Illini took Gold in 4 individual categories (Novice Lightweight Men, Novice Lightweight Women, Novice Men, Open Women). The Varsity Men from Illinois also stunned the field by winning Gold in the Men’s 5x 500m relay and setting a new CIRC in the process. The Varsity Women also managed to break the previous 5x 500m women’s record, but fell to a very strong Purdue Crew who took Gold. Novice Lightweight Niels Geertsen also set a new CIRC record, while Novice Lightweight Katie Ruhl came close to doing the same – both rowers cap their winter seasons undefeated after winning Gold at the Indianapolis and Illini Indoor Rowing Championships.Both the Men’s and Women’s Rowing Clubs will be returning to water soon in preparation for the Spring Rowing Season. The first water race of the year will take place on March 29th when Illinois races at the John Hunter Regatta in Gainesville, GA.A full listing of results is available at chicagoindoorrowing.com