UT sports club’s men’s eight won their first-ever Estonian championship title

For the first time in the history of the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club, the club’s men's eight secured first place at the Estonian Rowing Championships at the Aidu water sports centre.

The winning crew, Roland Mitt, Karl August Ruusalepp, Priit Laidma, Karl Varik, Kaarel Kiiver, Rasmus Tensing, Aleksander Jalakas and Mark Theodor Jalakas, and coxswain Gertrud Tõrra, crossed the finish line in 6:23.7.

Coach Priit Purge said that the achievement is significant in several respects. “This is the first Estonian championship title for the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club in the men's eight, with the entire crew made up of athletes from our own club. It is also noteworthy that six crew members are students at the University of Tartu. I am extremely proud of our athletes,” said Purge.

Tallinn Rowing Club earned the silver medal in 6:27.8, and Pärnu Rowing Club took bronze with 6:35.8. Viljandi Rowing Club was fourth (6:41.7), and Rowing and Canoeing Club Tartu was fifth (6:51.3).

Rachel Kõllo, a member of the university sports club, won bronze in women’s single sculls and another bronze in women’s double sculls together with Krete Koovit from Viljandi Rowing Club. Another University of Tartu representative, Kaarel Kiiver, secured silver in men’s quadruple sculls alongside Endrik Hansen (Pärnu Kalev), Christopher Hein (Tallinn Rowing Club) and Riko Raimond Kubja (SAK Tartu).