Bulldogs Gain Valuable Great Experience At Clemson Invitaitonal
4/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
CLEMSON, S.C. - A day after weather forced the opening day of the Clemson Invitational to be shortened, it once against played havoc on the final day of the regatta. This time wind made the final two sessions of Sunday's racing not ideal and forced the final few races - including the final heat of the Bulldog Varsity 4+ - to be cancelled.
The Gonzaga University women's rowing team handled the weather as best it could and ended the invite Sunday placing third and fifth in its two Varsity 8+ heats, fifth in both Second Varsity 8+ heats and seventh in its lone Varsity 4+ race.
"There was a definite wind challenge today," explained Gonzaga head coach Glenn Putyrae. "There was a head wind in the earlier races and strong crosswinds, which we did not handle very well, in the latter races."
The Bulldog Varsity 8+ opened the racing Sunday - held on Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C. - finishing third, right behind second place Michigan State and right ahead of Oregon State University. The Zags crossed the finish line in 6:56.3. Washington State University earned the win in 6:52.3.
Gonzaga closed out the opening session of Sunday with a fifth place finish in the Second Varsity 8+ and a seventh place finish in the Varsity 4+. The Zags time in the Second Varsity 8+ was 7:13.3, while the Varsity 4+ ended the 2,000-meter course in 8:26.9.
"Two of the three races in the early session were very competitive," stated Putyrae. "Overall we raced well."
The Zags were supposed to race three times in the second session Sunday as well but only the Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+ made it down the course. The heavy crosswinds also slowed all the boats and increased all their times.
The Bulldog Varsity 8+ earned fifth in their second race at 7:31.0 with the University of Wisconsin winning the race in 7:15.5.
Gonzaga's Second Varsity 8+ ended the day with its second fifth place finish of the weekend with a time of 7:59.3. The University of Louisville took the victory in 7:26.9.
Despite the weather, Putyrae was happy with the experience his team gained at their first-ever Clemson Invitational.
"It is good to know we are competitive with a lot of strong programs; it's a great place to be." Putyrae said. "We now know what we have to do and what we need to work on heading into our championship season."
The Bulldog novices hit the water next at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships, set for April 27-28, followed by all boats heading to the West Coast Conference Championship, May 17.
Clemson Invitational Results - Sunday, April 20, 2014 - Clemson, S.C. - Lake Hartwell
Sunday Session 1
Varsity 8+
1. Washington State, 6:52.3
2. Michigan State, 6:54.2
3. Gonzaga, 6:56.3
4. Oregon State, 6:56.7
5. Syracuse, 6:59.9
6. Penn, 7:09.9
7. Miami (FL), 7:18.4
Second Varsity 8+
1. Washington State, 7:03.4
2. Syracuse, 7:04.0
3. Michigan State, 7:08.6
4. Oregon State, 7:10.7
5. Gonzaga, 7:13.3
6. Penn, 7:17.4
7. Miami (FL), 7:38.1
Varsity 4+
1. Syracuse, 7:50.6
2. Washington State, 7:52.0
3. Michigan State, 8:01.4
4. Oregon State, 8:16.7
5. Penn, 8:22.2
6. Miami (FL), 8:24.9
7. Gonzaga, 8:26.9
Sunday Session 2
Varsity 8+
1. Wisconsin, 7:15.5
2. Syracuse, 7:18.9
3. Louisville, 7:23.4
4. Penn, 7:24.2
5. Gonzaga, 7:31.0
6. Columbia, 7:39.0
7. Texas, 7:53.5
Second Varsity 8+
1. Louisville, 7:26.9
2. Syracuse, 7:28.5
3. Wisconsin, 7:31.7
4. Penn, 7:45.5
5. Gonzaga, 7:49.3
6. Texas, 7:50.2
7. Columbia, 7:51.7
