Rowing's Second Varsity 8+ Takes Second in Rhode Island
4/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
KINGSTON, R.I. - The Alabama rowing team's Second Varsity 8+ rowed a tremendous race at the Rhode Island Quad meet to take second place Saturday, April 14 on the Narrow River.
"Our Second Varsity 8+ rowed the kind of race that made me proud to be their coach," UA head coach Larry Davis said. "They were down in fourth place at the 1000-meter mark and they kept chipping away, getting through UCF and Boston over the last 500-meters and they were starting to press Rhode Island. It was a really gutsy race on their part."
Alabama's 2V8 finished just behind host Rhode Island with a time of 7:14.29, followed by Boston University in third and Central Florida in fourth.
"I'd almost call it a masterful race," Davis said. "They did what we talked about, they made their moves when we talked about making move, they hung tough, they were patient and they worked their way up through the crowd. That's the way we want to race."
The Tide's First Varsity 8+ struggled, coming in fourth with a time of 7:18.33. Boston won the 1V8 race with a time of 6:56.20, followed by Rhode Island in second and UCF in third.
"The First Varsity 8+ is not racing the way they're practicing," Davis said. "We've got to get to the point where we're seeing that kind of effort on race day."
The Tide's Novice 8+ competed in the meet's Third Varsity 8+ division, taking fourth place with a time of 7:39.55. Boston took first, crossing the line at 7:17.36, followed by Central Florida and Rhode Island.
"Our freshmen competed against the other team's Third Varsity boats, and I thought our ladies acquitted themselves very well," Davis said. "They were only about a boat length and a half off the pace against a tough field."
The Tide's First Varsity 4+ took fourth with at time of 8:05.09, while the Second Varsity 4+ was third in a time of 8:25.22.
The Tide returns to action Saturday, April 21 at home in a dual meet against Iowa. The meet will be held on the Black Warrior River starting at 12 p.m. CDT.
