Michigan State University
Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational
Spartans Finish Strong In Opening Weekend
3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
East Lansing, Michigan -- Michigan State wrapped up competition at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational on Sunday, and finished with it's strongest results of the weekend. MSU won four of five races (with a second-place finish) against Kansas, Tennessee, and Alabama, but more importantly had race times much more in line with its nationally-ranked counterparts than it did in yesterday's head-to-head racing.
MSU's second novice eight won its third race of the weekend, finishing ahead of Alabama by open water (6:334.993-6:41.520), and the novice eight won it's second in a time of 6:12.132, more than 12 seconds, putting two lengths between itself and Kansas in the sprint for the commanding victory.
The two varsity eights also had strong finishes, as the Spartan varsity eight was about a length ahead of the Jayhawks (6:01.206 - 6:05.088), who edged Tennessee (6:05.266) at the line. Alabama was third in a time of 6:11.077.
Comparing the Spartans to the two top-ranked crews at the regatta, MSU did a nice job of closing it's margins on No. 2 Virginia and No. 9 Yale. The Spartans were 17 seconds behind the Cavaliers on Saturday and trimmed that to just over seven seconds on Sunday - against Louisville and Oklahoma, Virginia turned in a time of 5:54.253. The Spartans cut its margin on the Elis to just under six seconds, as the Eli varsity eight was clocked in 5:55.419 on Sunday against Notre Dame, Minnesota, and UCF, and MSU was more than nine seconds behind Yale in Saturday's race.
MSU's second varsity eight was a full length ahead of the Volunteers at the finish, clocked in 6:10.139 to Tennessee's 6:15.261. Alabama was almost the same distance behind the Vols at 6:19.351, and Kansas was open water behind the field in 6:30.763.
The lone second-place finish of the day came by the varsity four, as the Jayhawks had about three seats on the Spartans att eh finish, as MSU was clocked in 6:49.279 and Kansas in 6:46.755. Both boats had open water on Alabama (6:55.261) and Tennessee (6:58.253).
MSU has two weeks until its next competition, as it will travel to Columbus to race Louisville and Notre Dame on March 28.
Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational - Sunday, March 15, 2015
Varsity Eight: Michigan State 6:01.206; Kansas 6:05.088; Tennessee 6:05.266; Alabama 6:11.077
Second Varsity Eight: Michigan State 6:10.139; Tennessee 6:15.261; Alabama 6:19.351; Kansas 6:30.763
Varsity Four: Kansas 6:46.755; Michigan State 6:49.279; Alabama 6:55.261; Tennessee 6:58.253
Novice Eight: Michigan State 6:12.132; Kansas 6:24.276; Alabama 6:29.806
Second Novice Eight: Michigan State 6:34.993; Alabama 6:41.520
