April 28, 2002

Manhattan, Kan. - Kansas State won the first varsity eight race to tie the team score, but Kansas captured the final race of the day, the novice eights, to retain the Kansas Cup in a dual rowing regatta Sunday at Tuttle Creek Lake.

The Kansas Cup is a traveling trophy awarded to the overall winner of the dual match in the spring between the Wildcats and Jayhawks. Kansas has won the cup the last four years it has been contested.

Kansas won the cup, 13-8, Sunday in scoring that assigns points to the winner of each race. KU took an 8-0 lead after earning five points to win the second varsity eight and three points for the varsity fours. The Wildcats tied the score by getting eight points for the win in the first varsity eight, but the Jayhawks' win in the novice eights was the eventual difference.

"It's disappointing to send the cup back to KU," said Wildcat head coach Jenny Hale. "We've got to learn in team competitions to be deeper."

In the first varsity eight race, KU led by two seats through the first 500 meters, but the Wildcats slowly closed the gap. K-State picked up a slight lead with 500 meters remaining and extended its lead through the finish line. The Wildcats won by just four seconds, with their 6:35.2 mark being one of its fastest times ever.

It was the second straight 1V8 race with coxswain Elane Walker, who Hale credited with steering a tight course and maintaining her composure when the Jayhawk boat steered close to the Wildcats midway through the course.

"We battled back and had a tremendous race in terms of the fight in the second 1,000 meters," said Hale. "We need a little more pop at the finish. But for that crew, their trouble had been the second 1,000 meters and this is a good turnaround over the last three or four races."

In the first event of the day, Kansas took an early lead in the 2V8 race and held it throughout. The Jayhawks had a four-seat lead after the first 500 meters and went on to take a seven-second victory over the Wildcats.

KU battled to a boat-length lead in the first 500 meters of the fours event. The Jayhawks' two boats each held the lead in the first half of the race, with the Jayhawk-A boat holding a seven-second lead over the KU-B boat at the end. Hale noted the effort of newcomer Renee Ecklund, who was making her first apperance in the K-State four.

Kansas held a four-seat lead in the novice eight race after 1,000 meters, with the Wildcats closing midway through the race. The Jayhawks pulled away slightly over the final 300 meters to earn a five-second victory.

Sunday's regatta was delayed until the evening by north winds that created difficult race conditions next to the Tuttle Creek Dam. An alternate racecourse was laid out on the northeast side of the lake.

Both schools travel next weekend to the Big 12 Invitational Regatta hosted by the University of Texas.

KANSAS 13, KANSAS STATE 8

Second Varsity Eights - 1. Kansas-A, 6:55.7; 2. Kansas State (Cox: Brandy Sherwood; 8: Talara Wait; 7: Lori Holcomb; 6: Katie Baxter; 5: Amy Herrmann; 4: Lindsey Hahn; 3: Ingrid Shwaiko; 2: Marja-Lisa Paulson; Bow: Amiee Finkbeiner) 7:02.6, ; 3. Kansas-B, 7:16.5.

Varsity Fours - 1. Kansas-A, 7:28.1; 2. Kansas-B, 7:35.2; 3. Kansas State (Cox: Katrina Regehr; 4: Susie Truax; 3: Jill Anderson; 2: Anne Hagerman; Bow: Renee Ecklund), 8:07.1.

First Varsity Eights - 1. Kansas State (Cox: Elane Walker; 8: Samantha Allen; 7: Josie McClellan; 6: Glenna Yokum; 5: Lara Schrock; 4: Courtney Franssen; 3: Carissa Land; 2: Katy Bockelman; Bow: Alyssa Adams), 6:35.2; 2. Kansas, 6:39.2.

Novice Eights - 1. Kansas, 7:09.7; 2. Kansas State-A (Cox: Melissa Holder; 8: Talara Wait; 7: Lindsay Gourlay; 6: Angela Murray; 5: Abby Betzen; 4: Marja-Lisa Paulson; 3: Terri Keeler; 2: Linzi Hauldren; Bow: Kate Rulifson), 7:14.6; 3. Kansas State-B (Cox: Bridgid Driscoll; 8: Sally Lanigan; 7: Melesa Lorett; 6: Sarah Trapp; 5: Grace Riekenberg; 4: Crystal Borhani; 3: Amber Jaklevich; 2: Jennifer Strong; Bow: Kim O'Reilly), 7:41.1. --ksu--