May 10, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF rowing keeps racking up first-place finishes as the No. 3 lightweight 8+ boat defeated an impressive field at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia Saturday. After claiming the top spot in the first heat of the day on the Schuykill River, the Knights were the first to cross the finish line in the final heat, topping second-place No. 11 Virginia Tech by over 11 seconds.
The regatta served as a qualifying event for the IRA National Championship in June, and UCF took advantage of its opportunity. In heat one, the Black and Gold registered a time of 6:32.871, cruising past No. 12 Buffalo which picked up second place with a time of 6:49.294. No. 13 Duquesne also moved on to the final heat by coming in third.
Following a five-hour break to prepare for the second and final heat, UCF had little trouble claiming the overall lightweight 8+ title. The Knights completed the course in 6:45.102, while the Hokies grabbed second place and Ohio State secured third. No. 9 Lehigh also participated in the event, and earned sixth place in the final heat in Pennsylvania.
The UCF rowing program hits the water again May 17-18 with the South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
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Heat One1)#3 UCF - 6:32.8712)#12 Buffalo - 6:49.2943)#13 Duquesne - 6:52.7124)Ohio - 7:32.796Penn State - DNS
Final Heat1)#3 UCF - 6:45.1022)#11 Virginia Tech - 6:56.6653)Ohio State - 7:01.0724)Buffalo - 7:04.5785)#13 Duquesne - 7:04.8556)#9 Lehigh - 7:12.410