April 5, 2008

Complete Results in PDF Format

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State had considerable success in its only home races of the 2008 season, as the varsity eight, 2V, and varsity four each posted victories over Notre Dame and Indiana in a double-dual at Grand River Park on Saturday.

The morning session went well for the Spartans, posting victories in five of seven races against Notre Dame, including the varsity, 2V, both fours, and first novice events.

The Spartans' varsity boat, ranked eighth in this week's CRCA rankings, posted a victory over Notre Dame in the final race of the morning session. The Spartans staked a two-seat lead after the opening 500, then pushed it to a half-length at the midpoint of the race. The Green and White extended their advantage to four seats of open water with a strong third 500, but the Irish countered with a strong final 500 to finish six seats behind MSU at the finish. In the afternoon portion of the raceday, MSU had open water at 500 and coasted to the open-water victory by a 24-second margin.

The second varsity posted a half-length victory over Notre Dame. The Spartans had a four-seat lead after the first 500, which opened up to a full length at the 1000. The Itish made a move late in the third 500, and cut into the lead by two seats, and pushed over the final 500 to finish a half-length behind the Spartans at the finish line. Against the Hoosiers, the second varsity had a bow-to-stern lead by the settle, which turned into open water by the 500. The Spartans led by three lengths of open water at 1500 and cruised to victory by 25 seconds.

The varsity four, the reigning Big Ten Boat of the Week, had little trouble in its race against the Irish, opening up a two-seat lead after 500 meters and opening it up to a full length at the midpoint and two lengths at 1500 meters. The margin was even larger against Indiana - With a length lead at the 500 which quickly turned into open water, the Spartans held a lead of five lengths of open water entering the final 500 and cruised to a 35-second victory.

The day opened with the second novice eight - Notre Dame half-length of open water at 500, and extended it to a full length at the halfway point. The lead extended to two lengths by the 1500 meters, and the Irish coasted to the early victory. The two teams raced one another again to open the second session, and MSU shaved nearly 17 seconds off thte margin, coming in 15.6 seconds behind the Irish entry in the second race.

While the Spartans took on Big Ten rival Indiana in the afternoon session and the Irish took on Miami, The session's novice eights and fours races featured Notre Dame as well as MSU and the Hoosiers. The Irish posted a victory in the novice and second novice, and third varsity four events, but MSU took the second varsity four by none seconds and followed that up with its commanding victory over the Hoosiers in the varsity four.

Michigan State returns to action next weekend when it travels to Virginia - Saturday's racing will feature the Cavaliers, Northeastern, Oregon State, and Columbia in Charlottesville.