Rowing Competes in Three Finals in SIRA Championships Finale
4/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - The Alabama Rowing Team competed in three finals on the last day of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships including a second place finish in the "B" final of the First Varsity 8.
"We rowed some good races today," Crimson Tide head coach Larry Davis said. "It was a little bit hot out there today, but the conditions were generally good. We were faster today, making some key adjustments. There was some very good competition here this weekend, from across the country and I think as a first year program we stacked up fairly well."
The First Varsity 8 battled Tulsa for the top spot in the "B" final, finishing just six-tenths behind the Golden Hurricanes, 7:03.3 to 7:03.9. The Tide avenged an earlier loss to SMU by half a boat length and increased their winning margin over previous opponent Murray State. The Tide also beat Jacksonville and West Virginia.
"Our first Varsity 8 rowed much better today than yesterday," Davis said. "We made some adjustments and made a five-second drop in our time over the same course."
Alabama finished sixth in the ultra-competitive grand final of the First Novice 8 race. Kansas State took first with a 7:07.3. The Tide battled fifth-place Louisville down the stretch finishing just two-tenths back of the Cardinals, 7:21.1 to 7:21.3.
"It was a very competitive final," Davis said. "We made a run at Louisville and just ran out of race course there at the end."
Alabama finished seventh in the finals of the Second Varsity 8 race with a 7:20.2. Central Florida won the final with a 6:53.0.
"We rowed a very good 1500-meters, but unfortunately for us, this was a 2000-meter race," Davis said. "We didn't finish well, which is unusual for this crew."
Alabama returns home next week for its second competition on the Black Warrior River against the Miami Hurricanes. The race will be April 28 and is slated for an 8 a.m. start.
