Spartans Advance Seven Boats to A Finals In Opening Regatta

Sarasota, Florida -- During Friday's opening day of racing of the 2023 season, Michigan State advanced all seven boats into Saturday finals of the Sunshine State Invitational.
The Spartans are among 14 schools in Sarasota this weekend, and among three to advance boats into all "A" finals, along with Wisconsin and Central Florida.

Michigan State's varsity eight was third in its heat to advance to the A Final on Saturday, about six seats back on Wisconsin. Miami won the heat with the best time of the day (6:33.40). In the second eight, MSU was fourth in the opening heat but still posted a better time (6:50.50) than anyone in the second to earn its spot in the final. MSU was half a length back of the Badgers, who finished third behind Central Florida and Miami.

Two Spartan boats won their heats – the second varsity four and the novice eight, which was racing in the third varsity four race along with the Spartan second novice eight boat. With just seven boats entered, both Spartan novice eights will advance to Saturday finals. In the second four, MSU (7:28.76) bested Wisconsin by more than two seconds to win the heat, and its third varsity four (racing as MSU "B" finished third in the heat in a time of 7:34.40, and also advanced to the final.

MSU's varsity four was second in the opening heat (7:19.77) to earn an automatic berth in the A final, just under five seconds behind Wisconsin.

Division I racing resumes on Saturday morning at 8 am with the varsity eight B final, followed by the A final at 8:10. Full racing results can be found at crewtimer.com/regatta/r12581

Varsity Eight (top two in each heat and next four top times advance to A final):
Heat one: 1. Miami 6:33.40; 2. Wisconsin 6:38.74; 3. Michigan State 6:41.53; 4. North Carolina 6:45.05; 5. Central Florida 6:45.37; 6. West Virginia 6:59; 7. Stetson 7:08.77
Heat two: 1. Tulsa 6:33.80; 2. Louisville 6:37.20; 3. Drexel 6:38.99; 4. Kansas 6:47.84; 5. Old Dominion 6:52.29; 6. Jacksonville 6:56.93; 7. Kansas State 6:57.41
Saturday A final qualifiers: Miami, Wisconsin, Tulsa, Louisville, Drexel, Michigan State, North Carolina, Central Florida

Second Varsity Eight (top two in each heat and next four top times advance to A final):
Heat one: 1. Central Florida 6:41.98; 2. Miami 6:45.09; 3. Wisconsin 6:48.42; 4. Michigan State 6:50.50; 5. North Carolina 6:56.03; 6. West Virginia 7:04.82; 7. Stetson 7:19.68
Heat two: 1. Kansas 6:54.14; 2. Drexel 6:54.57; 3. Louisville 6:55.46; 4. Tulsa 6:58.98; 5. Jacksonville 7:02.23; 6. Kansas State 7:11.24; 7. Old Dominion 7:29.44
Saturday A final qualifiers: Central Florida, Miami, Kansas, Drexel, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Louisville, North Carolina

First Varsity Four (top two in each heat and next four top times advance to A final):
Heat one: 1. Wisconsin 7:14.93; 2. Michigan State 7:19.77; 3. Central Florida 7:24.40 4. Miami 7:33.90; 5. North Carolina 7:40.00; 6. Stetson (8:04.90; 7. West Virginia 8:13.02
Heat two: 1. Kansas 7:25.59; 2. Kansas State 7:28.04; 3. Tulsa 7:30.39; 4. Jacksonville 7:31.78; 5. Drexel 7:40.94; 6. Louisville 7:50.87; 7. Old Dominion 8:27.30
Saturday A final qualifiers: Wisconsin, Michigan State, Kansas, Kansas State, Central Florida, Tulsa, Jacksonville, Miami

Second Varsity Four (top two in each heat and next four top times advance to A final):
Heat one: 1. Central Florida 7:28.50; 2. Kansas 7:29.93; 3. Kansas State 7:36.08; 4. Miami 7:47.47; 5. West Virginia 8:36.05
Heat two: 1. Michigan State A 7:28.76; 2. Wisconsin 7:31.10; 3. Michigan State B 7:34.40; 4. Jacksonville 7:37.24; 5. Louisville 7:46.54
Saturday A final qualifiers: Central Florida, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan State A, Michigan State B, Wisconsin, Jacksonville, Louisville

Third Varsity Eight/Novice Eight (lanes in final based on finish time):
1. Michigan State A (N8) 6:50.23; 2. Kansas 6:52.58; 3. Kansas State 6:55.13, 4.Jacksonville 7:04.55, 5. Central Florida 7:06.17; 6. Michigan State B (2N8).

Spartans Advance Seven Boats to A Finals In Opening Regatta

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