Michigan State University
Central Championships
Spartan Rowing Takes Third at the Central/Southern Sprints
5/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
May 19, 2002
Complete Results
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Final Team StandingsDownload Free Acrobat Reader
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Michigan State women's crew made a strong case for a team bid to the national championships with their performance at the Lexus Central/Southern Rowing Sprints hosted by the University of Tennessee. MSU competed against 18 schools on Melton Hill Lake, consisting of five conference opponents, including 2002 Big Ten Champion Ohio State. Michigan State took third as a team with 66 points. Michigan won the regatta with 106 points, while the Buckeyes followed with 88 points.
Michigan State's top three boats all placed in the top three of their respective events, putting the Spartans in a good position to receive a team bid to the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships when the selections are announced on Tuesday, May 21.
The Spartans rowed in five Grand Finals on Sunday (May 19). MSU's first varsity eight clocked a 6:37.8, placing third in the Grand Final behind first-place Ohio State (6:33.4) and second-place Michigan (6:37.5). The Wolverines narrowly defeated the Spartans by only .3 seconds in the final race of the weekend.
The Spartans' second varsity eight defeated Big Ten Champion Ohio State with a time of 6:53.8 to take second place, while the Buckeyes clocked a 6:57.5. Michigan took first in the event with a time of 6:51.5.
MSU's first varsity four, the 2002 Big Ten Champions, lost to Michigan by less than four seconds. The Wolverines won the event with a time of 7:26.9, while the Spartans rowed a 7:30.4 in the Grand Final. The second varsity four clocked an 8:09.4 for second place in the Petite Final.
In the second novice eight Grand Final, MSU took third with a time of 7:18.3. The Spartans' first novice eight took fifth place in the Grand Final at 7:14.4.
"This was the best performance I have ever seen out of our crew in the history of the program," exclaimed head coach Bebe Bryans. "Every boat competed to their potential, and the support that everyone gave out on the water and on the shore really pushed us to perform at a high level."
The Spartans have not received a team bid to the national championships since 2000. The 2002 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships will be held on May 30-June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Michigan State Final Results
Boat Time PlaceFirst Varsity Eight 6:37.8 Third (Grand Final)Second Varsity Eight 6:53.8 Second (Grand Final)First Varsity Four 7:30.4 Second (Grand Final)Second Varsity Four 8:09.4 Second (Petite Final)First Novice Eight 7:14.4 Fifth (Grand Final)Second Novice EIght 7:18.3 Third (Grand Final)
