Rowing Wins Triple Gold at SIRA Championships
4/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - The Alabama rowing team overcame some rough conditions on the first day of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships held on Melton Lake this weekend, and on day two, the Crimson Tide overcame the rest of the field with a clean sweep of the Varsity Open events.
"With the exception of our Second Varsity 8, we were a little flat last weekend against Central Florida after the travel to the West Coast," Davis said. "We didn't seem to have that fire and killer instinct that we needed. We faced some tough competition this weekend and even with that prospect we wanted to come out, make a big statement, and sort of get back on track and I think each boat did that."
Sunday's finish marked the first time that Alabama has come away with three gold medals at the SIRA Championships.
"To sweep all the Varsity Open races is a really big step forward for our program," Davis said. "In general there aren't too many programs that have done that, so we were pretty happy with that."
The Tide repeated as champions of the SIRA Varsity 4+ race, turning in a 7:36.10 and again bettering second-place Tulsa by more than two seconds. The UA Varsity 4+ also beat Kansas State, Clemson and Purdue to take the title.
"We were down by about a length in the Varsity 4 and they put on a really solid last 500-meters, finishing off with a good sprint and were able to break through Tulsa who beat them out in California at San Diego Crew Classic. We were really pleased with the way they finished out the race and rowed Tulsa down."
Alabama's First Varsity 8+ posted a time of 6:47.00 to beat second place Tulsa by more than two seconds, avenging a first-day loss. The Tide also finished ahead of Conference USA foes Kansas State and SMU as well as Big 10 power Purdue.
"Our Varsity 8 boat was right in the midst of things or just slightly ahead the whole race and was able to finish it off well," Davis said. "In the last 100 to 150-meters they put on a really big surge and opened up about a half-length lead."
UA's Second Varsity 8+ turned in the widest margin of victory, beating second-place Kansas State by 15 seconds. The Tide also bettered Tulsa, Purdue and SMU.
"In the Second Varsity 8, our ladies took control early in the race and opened up as they went," Davis said. "We expected them to be able to do that, and they really executed well."
Alabama returns to action April 30 when it hits the road to take on Clemson in dual meet.
