Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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A LONG PADDLE Construction on the Kaw tacks extra miles to the first leg of the ARH canoe race, startling both paddlers and teammates. BY ERIN PERRY Chanting, cheering and starting guns cracked the September morning silence at Rocky Ford Fishing Area. Canoeists in the first heat of the 20th Annual Canoe Race shoved off into the chilly Kaw River, nothing more adverse than sore muscles and wet clothes. They also expected to be rowing for less than an hour. But surprises like an underestimated distance on the first leg, shallow water and a number of disqualifications were waiting downstream for the 28 teams. Sponsored by the Kansas State University Association of Residence Halls, the race was divided into eight legs of varying lengths for a total of 60 miles. Checkpoints marked the end of every leg, where teammates switched off tag-team style. Sam Robinson, junior in political science and event said teams could have only on e male and one female per leg. They also had to keep their lifejackets fastened when in the boat, and only one person could hold the canoe steady when changing rowers. Low water levels on the Kaw created sandbars, some impossible to row across. In this case, canoeists could not carry the boat over the obstacle. Construction on the Kaw River access ramp, the original starting point, forced the race upstream. A state park employee assured Robinson the move added just six miles to the race; race officials didn ' t bother to check it out. I thought they ' d gotten lost, that they ' d gone up a tributary somewhere we didn ' t know about, Robinson said when canoeists failed to appear on time at checkpoint one. She estimated the first leg was actually 13-15 miles. Putnam Hall teammates Thomas Annis and Tess Forge pulled into checkpoint one ahead of the pack. Annis, junior in computer engineering, said he began to wonder if they were on the right river because he raced last year and knew 10 miles shouldn ' t take more than an hour. When I saw the people (at the checkpoint), I thought, `They ' re just standing here to clap us on, ' and there was still another five miles, said Forge, freshman in animal science. Brian Springer, freshman in (Continued on page 12) Sean O ' Connor, senior in mechanical sprays water into the mouth of Linda Good, sophomore in pre-physical therapy, after winning the race. They rowed lastfor the Smith Smurthwaite team, finishing in 7:17:36. (Photo by Brian W. Kratzer) CANOE RACE 11

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Switching rowing partners at one of the checkpoints, Michael Miller, senior in mechanical engineering, and Shawna Shaver, freshman in business administration, come ashore as quickly as possible. (Photo by Brian W. Kratzer) The first pack of canoeists head into the sunrise on the Kaw River. Neither race officials nor knew the first leg was almost twice as long as estimated. (Photo by Brian W. Kratzer) 10 CANOE RACE

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PADDLE (Continued from page 11) secondary education, went to expose the message on his back in black marker: IF YOU CAN READ THIS THEN YOU ' RE IN SECOND PLACE. Springer also rowed the lengthy first segment. (I was thinking) I ' m tired, I ' m hungry and I ' ve got to go to the bathroom, he said. It was a lot more work than I planned on. The slowest canoe on the first leg clocked in at 3:21. When Robinson knew why the canoeists were delayed, she went ahead to checkpoint two and explained t he problem to waiting teammates. Judging from the time frame of races past, she realized night would fall before even the fastest canoes crossed the line. At checkpoint two, she that checkpoint five, just past Wamego, would replace St. Marys as the finish line. There, they could get the boats out of the water and it would be about 3 :3 0 p.m.- the originally planned finish time. They (the canoeists) thought ' It ' s only 10 in the morning. ' I said, ' Right, but at this time last year we were in Wamego, Robinson said. Cutting off the last third of the race disappointed those team members who were scheduled to canoe last, but people found ways to enjoy themselves both in and out of the water. One group played cards; some sunbathed on the rocky bank; others caught up on sleep they ' d missed to be at the starting point by 7 a.m. They were upset that we had to end the race early, said. But even if they were just waiting for the to come in, they were still having fun. Around 3 p.m., people to gather at the finish line under the Vermillion Bridge past Wamego. Anxious scanned the river to the west for glints that could be canoe reflections. Members of the Smith Smurth Serious team, from Smith and Smurthwaite houses, let out whoops and shouts when their pink-shirted canoeists came into view first. Sean O ' Connor, senior in mechanical engineering, and Linda Good, in pre-physical therapy, paddled to the finish; the team ' s winning time was 7:17:36. We were hoping we could (maintain the lead), Good said. We were trying to make sure we didn ' t tip, that we got our speed up and kept off sandbars. Tired of waiting for their canoe to arrive, Sherri Wade,freshman in electrical engineering, and Daniel Haskins, sophomore in business nap on their car. Construction on the river access ramp added unexpected miles to the first leg of the race, almost the length of the leg and the teammates ' wait. The added miles caused ARH officials to cut the race short. (Photo by Brian 12 CANOE RACE