OAK RIDGE, Tenn. The fifth-seeded Kansas State First Novice Eight boat advanced to Sunday’s B Final after posting a good showing on the first day of competition at the 2004 Lexus Central/Southern Sprints at Melton Hill Lake.

In the opening heats, K-State turned in a third-place time of 7:28.20 to move on to the B Semifinals of the event. Against top women’s crews from Wisconsin, Clemson, Notre Dame, Virginia and Indiana, the Novice Eight shell comprised of Julie Tharp (cox), Magda Hart, Stacey Waldman, Danielle Scott, Morgan Steele, Katie Williams, Larissa Kesler, Rachel Freeman and Kaci Williams placed fifth with a time of 7:36.70. The Wildcats will contend with boats from host Tennessee, Indiana Cincinnati, Virginia and North Carolina in tomorrow’s B Final at 10:10 a.m. (ET).

Both the First and Second Varsity Eight squads will compete in tomorrow’s C Level Final at 9:40 a.m. and 9:50 a.m respectively. The First Varsity Eight squad led by coxswain Elane Walker, Linzi Hauldren, Lori Holcomb, Lara Schrock, Angela Murray, Grace Riekenberg, Amiee Finkbeiner, Courtney Franssen and Megan Hauver, placed fifth in opening heats with a time of 7:01.80, behind No. 5 Ohio State, No. 14 Notre Dame, Minnesota and Indiana. The 1V8 boat later crossed the finish line at 7:11.10 to place second in the C/D Semifinals behind Miami (Fla.).

Eight of the 23 collegiate teams in the Varsity Eight race are currently ranked in the latest USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Top 20 Coaches Poll, while three (Duke, Minnesota and Miami) are receiving votes.

Final results and times from the 2004 Lexus Central/Southern Sprints will be posted at: www.utladyvols.com and www.k-statesports.com. The regatta serves as a qualifier for the upcoming NCAA Championships on May 28-30 in Sacramento, Calif. The top team to emerge from each of the Central and Southern regions earn an automatic bid to NCAAs.

2004 LEXUS CENTRAL/SOUTHERN SPRINTS
May 15-16, 2004
Melton Hill Lake
at Oak Ridge, Tenn.

WOMEN’S NOVICE EIGHT OPENING HEATS
1, Virginia, 7:19.00. 2, Miami (Fla.), 7:20.60. 3, Kansas State, 7:28.20. 4, Cincinnati, 7:30.30. 5, Eastern Michigan, 7:40.30.

WOMEN’S NOVICE EIGHT B SEMIFINALS
1, Wisconsin, 7:21.80. 2, Clemson, 7:24.20. 3, Notre Dame, 7:26.00. 4, Virginia, 7:26.30. 5, Kansas State, 7:36.70. 6, Indiana, 7:44.60.

WOMEN’S SECOND VARSITY EIGHT OPENING HEATS
1, Michigan State, 6:49.90. 2, Wisconsin, 6:55.80. 3, Texas, 7:03.10. 4, Duke, 7:03.40. 5, Kansas, 7:05.90. 6, Kansas State, 7:10.20. 7, Indiana, 7:31.70.

WOMEN’S SECOND VARSITY EIGHT C/D SEMIFINALS
1, Central Florida, 7:29.10. 2, Kansas State, 7:33.40. 3, Louisville, 7:34.90. 4, Indiana, 7:41.50.

WOMEN’S VARSITY EIGHT OPENING HEATS
1, Ohio State, 6:42.10. 2, Notre Dame, 6:45.50. 3, Minnesota, 6:48.40. 4, Indiana, 6:54.60. 5, Kansas State, 7:01.80. 6, Murray State, 7:34.40.

WOMEN’S VARSITY EIGHT C/D SEMIFINALS
1, Miami (Fla.), 7:08.30. 2, Kansas State, 7:11.10. 3, Louisville, 7:16.20. 4, North Carolina, 7:21.00. 5, Cincinnati, 7:25.00.