AUSTIN, Texas On the final day of the Longhorn Invitational, the Kansas State women’s rowing team outraced Duke in both Novice Eight races held Sunday on Town Lake.

K-State’s Melissa Cessna (cox), Alexis Johnson, Jennifer Reuss, Bailey Bunck, Bjai Rice, Lauren Galle, Kelsey Frasier, Seantella Cottner and Joleen Wilson, powered the First Novice Eight boat four-seconds ahead of the Blue Devils with a winning time of 7:17.1.

In the Second Novice Eight race, the Wildcats topped Duke 7:27.1.

“We were really quite pleased with the weekend,” Kansas State head coach Patrick Sweeney said. “They (Novices) learned a lot and they raced all of the races really well. They were better on holding their technique today and physically, we are much more consistent and stronger.

“Overall, I think we have definitely improved from last season and are a lot closer to the top crews (No. 15 Texas and No. 17 Duke), having only been a length or two behind them this weekend. We are a lot more confident now and it should help us come out strong against Creighton next weekend.”

Up next, the Wildcats host Creighton on Saturday, March 26 at 9 a.m. on Tuttle Creek Lake.

LONGHORN INVITATIONAL
March 18-20, 2005
Town Lake
at Austin, Texas

FIRST VARSITY EIGHT
1, Duke, 6:50.5, 2, Kansas State, 6:55.8

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
1, Duke, 6:56.3, 2, Kansas State, 7:04.5

FIRST NOVICE EIGHT
1, Kansas State, 7:17.1, 2, Duke, 7:21.0

SECOND NOVICE EIGHT
1, Kansas State, 7:27.1, 2, Duke, 8:15.1