ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF rowing team heads to the west side of the state this weekend for the Sunshine State Invite in Sarasota.
The Knights return to Nathan Benderson Park for the third straight year to race in the two-day regatta.
UCF will be joined by fellow Sunshine State crews in Miami, Jacksonville and Stetson. A pair of American Athletic Conference squads – Tulsa and RV SMU – will also line up with the Knights this weekend. No. 18 Alabama, RV Louisville, Kansas, Kansas State, Clemson and Old Dominion round out the field for the regatta.
On Friday, racing will begin with two heats of the Second Varsity Four at 3:20 p.m. The Third Varsity/Novice Four follows at 3:40 p.m. Two heats of the Varsity Four continue the slate at 4 p.m., followed by a 4:20 p.m. Third Varsity Eight race.
Two heats of the Second Varsity Eight will begin racing at 4:50 p.m., while the first day will conclude with a pair of Varsity Eight heats at 5:10 p.m.
Based on the results from the heats, teams will be assigned lanes for Saturday’s races at the end of Friday.
Saturday racing begins at 8:15 a.m. with the Varsity Eight. The Second Varsity Eight follows at 8:55 a.m. and the Third Varsity Eight at 9:35 a.m. The Second Varsity Four will race at 10:05 a.m. and the Varsity Four rounds out the weekend at 10:35 a.m.
The Knights are back in action after a bye week from competition. The Black and Gold dominated their home regatta on March 22, picking up five event victories. Following a commanding performance on the water, UCF's Varsity Eight was named The American's first Boat of the Week for the 2019 campaign.
Following the Sunshine State Invite, UCF will head to the Carolinas for back-to-back weekends, beginning with the Clemson Invite April 19-20.