Alabama Rowing Sends Five Crews to Saturday’s Grand Finals
4/5/2019 7:22:00 PM | Rowing
The Crimson Tide’s Second Varsity 4+ goes 7:18.20 to take first-place, posting the fastest time of either heat
SARASOTA, Fla. – On the first day of racing, No. 18 Alabama rowing sent crews to each Grand Final at Sarasota's Sunshine State Invitational. The Tide's Second Varsity 4+ crew highlighted the day by posting the fastest time of the two heats.
"As expected, the racing in the heats was very competitive," UA head coach Glenn Putyrae said. "All of the boats did what they had to do, but we know it is going to take better performances across the board tomorrow to get the results we want."
In order to progress to Saturday's Grand Finals, teams had to place in the top two of their respective heats or have one of the next three fastest overall times.
Alabama's Second Varsity 4+ started off the day in a heat with Central Florida, conference-foe Kansas, Clemson and Old Dominion. The Tide finished first (7:18.20), becoming the first Alabama crew to progress to Saturday's Grand Finals. The Tide's Third Varsity 4+ also competed in the heat, finishing fourth (7:39.87) and moving on to the Petite Final.
Alabama's First Varsity 4+ was the second crew to progress to the Grand Finals, taking second (7:18.75) in its heat to Central Florida.
The Tide's Third Varsity 8+ was up next, finishing first in 6:46.20. With only one heat for the 3V8+ race, the same teams will compete tomorrow morning in the Grand Final.
After finishing three-tenths of a second ahead of second-place Central Florida, the Second Varsity 8+ crew was the fourth Crimson Tide boat to move to the Grand Finals, with the fifth and final crew being Alabama's First Varsity 8+, finishing first at 6:31.50.
The Tide's 1V8+ will kick things off on Saturday at 7:25 a.m. CT, followed by the 2V8+ (8:05 a.m. CT), 3V8+ (8:35 a.m. CT), 3V4+ (9:05 a.m. CT) and the 2V4+ at 9:15 a.m. CT. Alabama's 1V4+ will wrap up competition in Sarasota, Fla., at 9:45 a.m. CT.
For live results, fans can follow @FIRARowing on Twitter.
For the most up-to-date information on the team, follow Alabama rowing via AlabamaRow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
SUNSHINE STATE INVITATIONAL – FRIDAY, APRIL 5 RACE RESULTS
Second Varsity 4+ Heat 1
- Alabama 2V4+ (7:18.20)
- UCF – A (7:25.25)
- Kansas (7:34.79)
- Alabama 3V4+ (7:39.87)
- UCF – B (7:51.96)
- Clemson (7:56.18)
- Old Dominion (8:20.43)
First Varsity 4+ Heat 1
- UCF (7:18.10)
- Alabama (7:18.75)
- Clemson (7:37.02)
- Kansas (7:37.93)
- Old Dominion (7:51.56)
- Stetson (8:06.42)
Third Varsity 8+
- Alabama (6:46.20)
- Kansas State (6:57.19)
- Kansas (7:07.94)
- Clemson (7:10.20)
- UCF (7:11.12)
- Jacksonville (7:31.55)
- Miami (7:42.21)
Second Varsity 8+ Heat 1
- Alabama (6:37.00)
- UCF (6:37.30)
- Kansas (6:43.70)
- Clemson (6:47.99)
- Old Dominion (7:37.04)
- Stetson (7:56.21)
First Varsity 8+ Heat 1
- Alabama (6:31.50)
- UCF (6:33.19)
- Kansas (6:35.25)
- Clemson (6:36.69)
- Old Dominion (6:54.17)
- Stetson (7:01.70)
