MANHATTAN, Kan. Championship racing against some of the top crews in the region and nation is up next for the Kansas State women’s rowing team as the Wildcats travel to the two-day Southern IRA’s on April 14-15 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

There, the Wildcats will see much faster competition this spring and try to position themselves among a smorgasbord of collegiate crews hailing from Purdue, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Sacramento State, SMU, Tulsa, Miami, Washington University, Auburn, William & Mary, Georgia State, Murray State, Northwestern State, Ohio University, Stetson, Texas, Georgia, UC San Diego, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Davidson, Jacksonville and West Virginia.

The 2,000-meter course at Melton Hill Lake is known as one of the best rowing venues in the U.S. It has served as the site for numerous major championships including the U.S. Nationals, Women’s Nationals, Master’s Nationals and the Pan American Trials. Kansas State will compete in the Women’s Novice Eight, Women’s JV Eight, Women’s Varsity Four and Women’s Varsity Eight races.

Over the last two seasons under Sweeney, K-State has placed well and flourished at the regional regatta. Most notably during the 2004 spring season, the Wildcats took home first-place trophies in the Women’s Varsity Eight and Women’s Novice Four as well as a second-place medal in the Women’s JV Eight. Last year, three out of the four boats from K-State advanced to the finals of their respective race.

Complete race results for SIRA’s can be accessed online at: www.regattacentral.com or www.orra.org.

SOUTHERN IRA’S RACE SCHEDULE

Friday, April 14

Heats

Women’s Varsity Four at 4:29 p.m.

Saturday, April 15

Semifinals

Women’s JV Eight at 9:01 a.m.

Women's Varsity Eight at 10:54 a.m.

Finals

Women’s Novice Eight at 2:55 p.m.

Women’s JV Eight at 3:16 p.m. (B Final) or 3:23 p.m. (A Final)

Women’s Varsity Four at 4:18 p.m. (B Final) or 4:25 p.m. (A Final)

Women’s Varsity Eight at 5:00 p.m. (B Final) or 5:10 p.m. (A Final)

KANSAS STATE LINEUPS

1V8: Cox: Claire Johnson, 8: Megan Hauver, 7: Kaci Williams, 6: Alexis Johnson, 5: Larissa Kesler, 4: Bjai Rice, 3: Jennifer Flannigan, 2: Heather Hoffman, 1: Jacque Crockford.

2V8: Cox: Stephanie Black, 8: Amy Wagner, 7: Kristin Alstatt, 6: Kari Chadd, 5: Elise vander Putten, 4: Kelsey Frasier, 3: Heather Gerstner, 2: Danielle Scott, 1: Jamie Holt.

V4: Cox: Melissa Cessna, 4: Veronica Noonan, 3: Rachel Freeman, 2: Bailey Bunck, 1: Jennifer Reuss.

1N8: Cox: Anna Wagner, 8: Amber Mulyck, 7: Michael Knoll, 6: Kate Priest, 5: Whitney Revell, 4: Julia Roque, 3: Carlee Parke, 2: Jayme File, 1: Michelle Higgins.