GAINESVILLE, Ga. (5/31/11) - The University of Colorado crew team finished 25th last weekend during the American Collegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta at Lake Lanier.
The Buffaloes finished 16th in the women's event while the CU men's team did not crack the final standings. Grand Valley State finished first in the overall and women's competitions while Michigan took home their second straight men's title.
"I think the team as a whole did great this past weekend," said CU women's head coach Fran O'Rourke. "We were up against some of the top club crew teams in the nation, and it was good to see how we matched up against the rest of the country. We are very proud with how all of our athletes performed, they raced hard and their results were pretty solid."
After finishing tied for second a year ago, the women's team had solid outings in the novice eight race, where they finished fifth, and the varsity four event, where the finished sixth.
The men finished 14th in their novice eight race and finished 18th in the varsity eight competition.
Colorado sent 34 athletes to the national regatta, all of whom enjoyed a 26 hour drive to and from Gainesville, which is about 55 miles northeast of Atlanta. The National Championships were at the same site that held the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics competition.
About 95 percent of the student-athletes that make up the CU crew team had never rowed before college and about 70 percent of the squad is from the State of Colorado.
CU Crew website: http://www.colorado.edu/StudentGroups/coloradocrew
ACRA website: http://www.americancollegiaterowing.com/
