Sooners Perform Well at Regatta

March 23, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma rowing team had a strong showing at the Longhorn Invitational on Lady Bird Lake in Austin this past weekend. Day one of competition began on Friday when the OU varsity four defeated Iowa, running eight minutes 21.9 seconds compared to Iowa's 8:56.1. Oklahoma's first novice eight followed the varsity recording a time of 7:48.1, but lost to Kansas State, who posted a time of 7:41.5.

"Overall, I was impressed with the performance of our squad this weekend," said OU head coach Leeanne Crain. "We are a young group with very limited race experience, and all of our boats handled themselves well on the water. We definitely gained experience and learned something in each of the 2000 meter races. The novices came away with two solid victories over Texas and Iowa, and the varsity four really stepped up to beat Iowa and UCF and did a great job going after Wisconsin. Unfortunately, the Badgers were just too much for us this weekend. They got out quick off the start and we just couldn't catch them. We'll continue to work on improving race tactics as the season goes on, so we can win those close ones."

On Saturday the varsity four competed against the defending national champion Wisconsin lightweights. The race was close to the finish but the Sooners finished second, 7:33.7-to-7:32.5. OU recovered from their loss in the second race of the day, defeating Central Florida by 29 seconds.

The first novice eight went 2-2 on the second day. OU posted a time of 7:04.5 to beat Texas and then went on to beat Iowa in a race to the finish, 7:35.6-to-7:36.5. The last day of the regatta the Sooners were unable to notch a win. The varsity four were defeated a second time by the Wisconsin lightweights, 7:59.3-to-7:55.8. OU's second novice eight raced for the first time during the invitational and posted a time of 7:43.47, but was defeated by a time of 7:42 by Texas.

Oklahoma hits the water again Saturday, March 28, at the Head of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Kansas and SMU will be attending the regatta which begins at 8:00 a.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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