May 18, 2008
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Taking on an impressive field of 22 schools, the UCF rowing team wrapped up the 2008 Aramark South/Central Region Sprints Sunday on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Knights finished in 13th place overall while earning sixth in the south region standings.
Virginia captured the team title with 407 points, with four Big Ten schools rounding out the top five. UCF picked up 193 points for the regatta, just six shy of 12th-place Texas and 48 more than 14th-place Indiana.
The Black and Gold's second varsity 8+ was the first to enter the water, and completed the course in 7:02.500 for fifth place in the petite final. The varsity 4+ also grabbed fifth in its respective petite final with a time of 7:49.470.
As soon as the varsity 4+ crossed the finish line, the varsity 8+ jumped in for the C final and secured third place thanks to a time of 6:53.700. The V8+'s performance provided UCF with 72 total points.
After winning its preliminary heat on Saturday, the novice 8+ picked up third place in the grand final on Sunday (7:10.300). It was just the second time a UCF crew reached a grand final (the varsity 8+ in 2007), and the first time a Knight boat medaled at the event. The open 4+ ended the Knights' trip to Tennessee with sixth place in the petite final (8:20.800).
"All year the novice boat performed well above the sum of all their parts," said novice coach Andy Derrick. "They got all their successes this season the hard way, not by pure ability, but by hard work.Today we came up against a couple teams that were a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and our determination was just not enough to carry the day. That being said, I don't think these nine young women have anything to be disappointed about; not when they are the first UCF athletes in program history to be bringing a medal home from this event. I am extremely proud of them, honored to have been a part of such a momentous season, and I see very bright things for each of them in the future."
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Final Standings at the Aramark South/Central Sprints1) Virginia - 407 points2) Michigan State - 3713) Ohio State - 3514) Wisconsin - 3485) Michigan - 3316) Clemson - 3207) Notre Dame - 3158) Tennessee - 2939) Minnesota - 26410) Louisville - 20811) Iowa - 20212) Texas - 19913) UCF - 19314) Indiana - 14515) Miami (Fla.) - 13216) Kansas State - 9717) Duke - 8718) Kansas - 7819) North Carolina - 6120) SMU - 6021) Murray State - 5422) Eastern Michigan - 18
Final South Region Standings1) Virginia - 4072) Clemson - 3203) Tennessee - 2934) Louisville - 2085) Texas - 1996) UCF - 1937) Miami (Fla.) - 1328) Duke - 879) North Carolina - 6110) SMU - 60
UCF ResultsSecond Varsity 8+Petite Final - Fifth, 7:02.500, 66 points
Varsity 4+Petite Final - Fifth, 7:49.470, 27 points
Varsity 8+C Final - Third, 6:53.700, 72 points
Novice 8+Grand Final - Third, 7:10.300, 22 points
Open 4+Petite Final - Sixth, 8:20.800, 6 points