MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rowing team will open its spring season this weekend as a split squad. WVU will race four boats at the Sarasota 2K in Sarasota, Florida, on Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, and two boats against Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
"As a team, we are excited to start the racing schedule with so many opportunities and solid competition," WVU associate head coach
Tina Griffith said. "This format allows us to maximize racing opportunities for as many athletes as possible."
The Sarasota 2K will take place at host Nathan Benderson Park.
"At the Sarasota 2k, we are looking forward to strong competition from within the Big 12 and outside the Big 12," Griffith said. "Many of these crews have been practicing on the water and racing for longer than we have, so it will be a good challenge and allow us to gauge our progress in the early season. This weekend will help us get a pulse on where the other schools in our conference are and help us solidify our identity and plan as we move into the most important segment of the year."
Teams participating in the invitational include Alabama, Boston College, Dartmouth, High Point, Jacksonville, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Massachusetts, Michigan State, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Stetson, Tulsa, Central Florida, and Miami.
The 1V8, 2V8 and 1V4 will start the event with time trials before moving to heats and finals. The 2V4 will go straight into heats and move on to the finals.
"At RMU, we are looking forward to provide a racing experience in a smaller setting," Griffith said. "This will allow our newer athletes to get a race under their belt without as much stress and give our returning athletes a chance to gain valuable leadership and racing experience."
A 2K race with Robert Morris will start at 9:30 a.m. for the eights and occur in the area of the McPhail Boathouse. The fours will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the same area.
More information about the Sunshine State Invitational can be found
HERE.
