MANHATTAN, Kan.   The streak is over as the Kansas State women’s rowing team hoisted the Kansas Cup trophy for the first time since 1998 with a 9-8 victory over in-state rival Kansas Saturday at Tuttle Creek Lake Reservoir.

In the annual spring showdown between both schools, the Jayhawks would take an early eight-point lead with a first-place finish in the First Varsity Eight race with a winning time of 6:36.6, forcing the Wildcats to win out the remaining races.

Competition in both the Second Varsity Eight (6:32.8) and First Novice Eight (6:35.0) races came down-to-the-wire, with K-State claiming a pair of half-second victories over KU, to tie up the point total to eight apiece.

With the Second Novice Eight boat left to row, the crew comprised of coxswain Kendra Jones, Maureen McKiernan, Erin Martin, Abby Miller, Amy Noonen, Megan Beeman, Jill Hocking, Blythe Weir and Erin Miles, led by as many as five-boat lengths throughout the race to assure K-State the one-point win, clocking in at 7:25.2.

“It was a good team effort,” Kansas State head coach Patrick Sweeney said. “With the high crosswinds and changes to the race lineup, the team was able to adapt to the rough water better than our opponents. We were frustrated with the First Varsity Eight race (having to adjust to the conditions), but the rest of the team was able to pull it up for us.”

Prior to Saturday’s victory, KU had won the last six consecutive Kansas Cup meetings. The inaugural dual between both schools first began in 1998. This is only the second time in school history (since 1998) in which K-State has won both the Sunflower Showdown (annual fall meeting versus KU) and Kansas Cup in the same season.

Up ahead, the Wildcats travel to the Southern IRA’s on April 16-17 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

KANSAS CUP
Kansas State 9, Kansas 8
April 9, 2005
Tuttle Creek Lake Reservoir
at Manhattan, Kan.

FIRST VARSITY EIGHT (8 Points)
1, Kansas, 6:36.6, 2, Kansas State, 6:45.6

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (5 Points)
1, Kansas State, 6:32.8, 2, Kansas, 6:33.3

FIRST NOVICE EIGHT (3 Points)
1, Kansas State, 6:35.0, 2, Kansas 6:35.6

SECOND NOVICE EIGHT (1 Point)
1, Kansas State, 7:25.2, 2, Kansas, 8:14.5