Balance crucial for women on race day

A mix of talent and youth makes up Row 4. Each team is almost even in the experience range, but it's going to be the depth each team shows that is going to win out.\nGamma Phi Beta (3:02.62)\nGamma Phi Beta has two levels to their team: the second-year riders and the rookies.\nJunior Deirdre Finzer and senior Erin Shaffer have a year under their belts, while sophomore Whitney Diggs and junior Liz Gilbert are new to the race. \n "We're about half and half," Finzer said. "Whitney trained last year but didn't ride, so she knows a lot about what's going on. Liz didn't train in the fall and around Christmas she decided she wanted to ride, and to see her progress is amazing. We aren't very deep but we are strong."\nLast year, Gamma Phi Beta finished third in the race, after earning sixth position in qualifications. \nDespite a drop in positioning, Finzer said the team is not disappointed because qualifications are not what counts.\n"Everyone would like to be in the front of the pack," Finzer said. "But if you're smart and know the race tactics, then you know how to maneuver around from where you start."\nAlpha Delta Pi (3:03.25)\nAlpha Delta Pi is in a position it has not been in for a long time. The No. 11 qualification time is the lowest the team has found themselves in recent memory.\n"(Our qualification time) is only upsetting because for the first time in four years we didn't finish in the top 10," senior Emily Derkasch said. "But in terms of where we are actually positioned, we aren't worried, because the teams around us are solid enough that we don't see it as much of a concern."\nBut compared with other teams around them, Alpha Delta Pi has some depth to its team. Derkasch, a third-year rider, is joined by senior Sara Herman and junior Alison Drake. \nThe only rookie on the team is sophomore Rachel Mindel.\n"We are very optimistic," Derkasch said. "A lot of the race is luck, and we have proven lucky before. We have a good outlook on things, and we are just hoping everything comes together."\nAlpha Gamma Delta (3:04.52)\nTraining season has been rough for Alpha Gamma Delta.\nDuring Christmas break, their most experienced rider dropped out of the race because of personal reasons.\nThen the coach they hired vanished, leaving the team to work out its own training schedule.\n"We were happy with (our qualification results)," senior Heather Poag said. "We had a lot of problems early in the semester after losing a veteran rider and then trying to find girls to ride."\nPoag is the only second-year rider for the team. The rest of the team -- freshman Cory Bitzer and sophomores Karen Trappe and Kate Whitman -- are rookies.\nBut with the results Alpha Gamma Delta has had so far, the youth of the team doesn't worry them too much.\n"Last year, we had two veterans and two rookies," Poag said. "But our rookies are looking good. One of our rookies, Cory, is doing really well. She finished third in Miss-In-Out, so that's really exciting"