OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. In its fall season opener, the Kansas State women’s rowing team won the Women’s Novice 8+ race at the Head of the Oklahoma Centennial Regatta held Saturday on the Oklahoma River.

With an 18-second lead over in-state rival Kansas, the Wildcats crossed the finish line with a winning-time of 15 minutes, 25.09 seconds. KU followed in second (15:43.63) and Creighton third (18:22.59).

Up against the U.S. National Team and top regional competition, K-State placed two boats in the top 10 of the Women’s Varsity 4+ race. Just missing the cut for the 500 meter sprints, the Wildcats’ top boat finished seventh behind Tulsa with a time of 16:17.44. The squad’s “B” boat placed 10th (16:29.31) and “C” boat 19th (17:20.18) in a field of 32 entries.

“They really rowed and handled the race well today,” Head Coach Patrick Sweeney said. “I was quite pleased to see the results of our training and the fitness level of our team. We picked up a win in the Novice Eight race and placed seventh and 10th in the Varsity Four. They (Novices) were able to handle the situation of racing for the first time really well, even after a long day of head racing.”

The Wildcats continue competition tomorrow with three boats vying for the Commodore’s Cup in the Women’s Varsity 8+ race beginning at 12:05 p.m. The top six finishers advance to the 500m sprints.

Complete results can be accessed at: www.oklahomaregatta.com.

HEAD OF THE OKLAHOMA CENTENNIAL REGATTA

Oct. 1-2, 2005

Oklahoma River

at Oklahoma City, Okla.

WOMEN’S VARSITY 4+

1, U.S. National Team, 14:42.75, 2, Texas, 15:38.68, 3, Kansas (A), 15:43.90, 4, Tulsa (A), 15:52.18, 5, Kansas (B), 16:03.06, 6, Tulsa (B), 16:11.09, 7, Kansas State (A), 16:17.44, 8, Texas (B), 16:20.02, 9, Creighton (A), 16:25.62, 10, Kansas State (B), 16:29.31, 19, Kansas State (C), 17:20.18.

WOMEN’S NOVICE 8+

1, Kansas State, 15:25.09, 2, Kansas, 15:43.63, 3, Creighton, 18:22.59, 4, Oklahoma Crew, 19:16.52, 5, Tulsa, 19:34.10, 6, Kansas Crew, 19:58.22, 7, Creighton Rowing Association, 20:06.88, 8, Kansas State Rowing Association, 20:14.34, 9, Oklahoma State, 23:50.59, 10, Wichita State, 23:59.59.