OAK RIDGE, Tenn. Two first-place victories were claimed by the Kansas State women’s rowing team as the Wildcats won both the Novice Four and Varsity Eight races on the final day of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta held Sunday at Melton Hill Lake.

Led by coxswain Julie Tharp with the crew of Heather Martin, Stacey Waldman, Amy Wagner and Rachel Freeman, the Novice Four boat won in a time of 8:11.60, eight seconds ahead of their nearest competitors in Embry-Riddle (8:20.00) and Georgia (8:20.90).

K-State’s First Varsity Eight boat comprised of Elane Walker (coxswain), Linzi Hauldren, Courtney Franssen, Lara Schrock, Angela Murray, Grace Riekenberg, Amiee Finkbeiner, Lori Holcomb and Megan Hauver also sprinted to a first-place victory in the finals of the Varsity Eight race with a time of 6:55.00, beating out boats from Central Florida, Tennessee, Purdue, Dayton and SMU.

In addition, the Novice Eight and Second Varsity Eight squads placed fourth (7:14.40) and second (7:06.90) respectively to round out K-State’s dominant showing at SIRA’s.

Next week, the Wildcats will take time off from racing to prepare for their home-hosted Big 12 Invitational on Saturday, May 1 in Manhattan, Kan.

SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION REGATTA
April 17-18, 2004
Melton Hill Lake
at Oak Ridge, Tenn.

WOMEN’S NOVICE FOUR A FINAL
1, Kansas State, 8:11.60. 2, Embry-Riddle, 8:20.00. 3, Georgia, 8:20.90. 4, Alabama, 8:21.50. 5, UT-Chattanooga, 8:21.70. 6, Jacksonville, 8:27.50.

WOMEN’S NOVICE EIGHT A FINAL
1, Purdue, 7:07.10. 2, Louisville, 7:11.80. 3, Tennessee, 7:12.80. 4, Kansas State, 7:14.40. 5, Dayton, 7:19.10. 6, Georgia, 7:44.10.

WOMEN’S JV EIGHT A FINAL
1, Cincinnati, 6:59.30. 2, Kansas State, 7:06.90. 3, Central Florida, 7:13.40. 4, Purdue, 7:17.10. 5, Dayton, 7:26.70. 6, Marietta, 7:43.30.

WOMEN’S VARSITY EIGHT A FINAL
1, Kansas State, 6:55.00. 2, Central Florida, 6:58.90. 3, Tennessee, 6:59.30. 4, Purdue, 6:59.90. 5, Dayton, 7:00.50. 6, SMU, 7:06.30.