SARAH kESSANS



Rowing duo takes on challenge of boat race along Atlantic Ocean
By Jason Parsons Assistant Sports Editor
The 2900-mile trip between the Canary Islands to the West Indies will be rowed next November and December in record time. At least that is the hope of Sarah Kessans, a senior in the School of Agriculture, and Emily Kohl, a graduate from the School of Liberal Arts. Besides rowing the 2900-mile strip of the Atlantic Ocean, the duo is trying to beat the women’s record of 50 days and 7 hours during the Woodvale Events Rowing Race.
"I know this is a maintainable goal for us," Kohl said. "Being such competitive, driven people, we will stop at nothing until we beat the record." The duo will alternate in two-hour rowing shifts while the other person is sleeping in the cabin of the 24-foot ocean rowing boat. "It’s the adventure of a lifetime," Kessans said. "You don’t get a lot of chances to get to do something like this." The tandem has used rowing machines and strength and conditioning techniques to get ready for the race. They will even have a practice run in the Atlantic after Kessans graduates in May.
	Photo courtesy of Sarah Kessans
"When Sarah presented this to me, I saw it as an opportunity I just could not pass up," Kohl said. "The passion I have gained for rowing continues to grow with each year I am a part of it, so an opportunity to step our rowing up a level cannot be passed up." "I love adrenaline pumping, life threatening adventures — such as this one — and having it involve rowing, I get the best of both worlds. Plus, I just can’t turn down a challenge."		Emily Kohl (front) and Sarah Kessans (rear) are trying to break a record for the 2900-mile trip between the Canary Islands and the West Indies in the Woodvale Events Atlantic Rowing Race.
Both Kessans and Kohl were members of the Purdue Crew. They were there together for two years and have become better friends throughout this experience, which is one thing the two will need to complete their goals. "We have definitely learned a lot about each other since we have started this," Kohl said. "Having competed with each other for two years, we know how to push each other but we have also learned how to encourage each other and what sets the other person off. "Since starting this, Sarah and I have become even more competitive with each other outside of the boat, but once we get in that boat we pull that competitiveness together and it makes us an even stronger team." Kessans has the same sentiments. "You pretty much have to be good friends to be in a boat race like this," she said. The boat that will make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean will be in the Memorial Mall all day Friday. The two are hoping to raise $150,000 for their boat’s race. Kessans said that it will be there "just to gain interest from the students and let them know what we are doing." As for the race, both are excited. "I believe the race is going to be extremely challenging mentally, physically and emotionally, but what challenges aren’t?" Kohl said, "Being a very competitive and driven person, I can only expect for the best. "I believe we will both come back from this trip having a positive life changing experience."