Field is familiar for regionals

OAK RIDGE - University of Tennessee women's rowing coach Lisa Glenn said you can expect the usual suspects to shine today and Sunday at the Aramark Sprints/South and Central Regionals.

Tennessee is host for the event on the Melton Hill Lake rowing course for the 11th consecutive year. Teams from the NCAA's Central and South regions will compete for their respective titles as well as for the Aramark Cup, which goes to the overall high-points winner.

The regatta is an annual precursor to the NCAA Championships.

"This event is the end of the regular season for every team here," said Glenn, whose Lady Vols posted their best finish last year in the regatta: third overall and second in the South Region.

Preliminary heats in the 22-team field begin at 9 a.m. with the last heat scheduled to go off at 11:40. Semifinal action will run in the afternoon from 2 to 4:10.

Finals will be held Sunday morning from 9 to 11:40.

Tennessee will have crews entered in four races: Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and Open 4+.

The winners of each region automatically qualify for the upcoming NCAA Rowing Championships May 30 on Lake Natoma near Sacramento, Calif.

Tennessee is hoping a strong showing this weekend cements a trip to Lake Natoma. The Lady Vols finished ninth in the 2007 NCAA Championships, which were won by Brown.

"The crews that finish second and third in each region are looked at very strongly for the NCAA Championships - it's an at-large situation," said Glenn.

Virginia won the Aramark Cup in 2007 in convincing fashion as the Lady Cavaliers were first in every race they entered. Virginia totaled 440 points with Tennessee (352) and Central Florida (294) taking the next two slots in the team race.

Glenn said the Lady Cavs should be the team to beat again, but Tennessee will likely be in the hunt once again for a top finish along with several other schools.

"Virginia is always a very dominant force in the South Region. Clemson will be strong and Louisville has shown good speed," she said.

In the Central Region, Glenn looks for traditional Big 10 powers to rule once again. Ohio State is the five-time defending champion in the region.

"Michigan State just won the Big 10 championship and you've got teams like Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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