Clemson Rowing To Compete in 2003 Lexus South/Central Sprints

May 15, 2003

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson rowing returns to Oak Ridge, TN to participate in the 2003 Lexus South/Central Sprints on Melton Hill Lake over May 17-18. Twenty-one teams, including many of the top-ranked programs in the nation, will compete on the 2000m course sponsored by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association for a bid to the National Championships May 30-1 in Indianapolis, IN. This will be the fifth appearance at this regional competition for the Tigers. In the last four years the Tigers have had all top ten finishes at the Sprints including two fourth place finishes in 1999 and 2000, sixth in 2001 and seventh in 2002.

This year Clemson rowing will be participating in the First Novice 8+, Second Varsity 4+, First Varsity 4+, Second Varsity 8+ and First Varsity 8+ events. Competing against the Tigers will be Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tulsa from the Central Region. Duke, Louisville, Miami (FL), North Carolina, SMU, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia make up the South Region opponents.

Events will kick off on Saturday at 9am Central time with the First Novice 8+ heats. Semifinal and Repechage races will commence at 2pm that same day. The weekend will conclude on Sunday with the finals for each event.

The Tigers last competed in the Clemson Classic against #20 Tennessee and #12 Washington State on Lake Hartwell. In the Novice 8+ and Second Varsity 4+ races Clemson took second while finishing third in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Second Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+.