April 24, 2009

Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa women's rowing team will host the 2009 Midwest Intercollegiate Rowing Championship this Saturday, April 25th at the J. Bird Senior Shell Nest on the Verdigris River in Catoosa, Okla. Central Oklahoma, Creighton, Drake, Oklahoma City, SMU, Wichita State and Tulsa will be competing in the regatta, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

The Tulsa women will be looking to three-peat as MIRC Champions, after taking home the team championship in 2007 and 2008. The Golden Hurricane is coming off a solid performance last weekend at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, bringing home a gold, silver and bronze medal. The Golden Hurricane's Varsity 4+ also picked up its first-ever regional ranking, coming in at No. 5 in the south region this week.

Although this is the first time in school history for TU to host the MIRC, Tulsa isn't new to hosting a regatta, as the Golden Hurricane has hosted the Lawless Cup the last several years.

SMU possesses the biggest challenge for the Hurricane this weekend, as they are coming off a sweep over Creighton this season, winning all five races, a feat TU also accomplished earlier this spring.

The Blue Jays and the Bulldogs are both coming to Tulsa after competing in the Upper Midwest Rowing Championships last weekend. Drake won the Varsity 4+, Novice 8+ and Varsity 8+ races, but it was Creighton who took home the team championship.

Oklahoma City University defeated Oklahoma State and the Oklahoma club team nearly a month ago, while Central Oklahoma is in its first year as a varsity program, and Wichita State will compete as a club team.

Oklahoma City will take on club teams Creighton and Wichita State on the men's side.

Men's and women's teams are set to compete in the Novice 4+, Varsity 4+ Novice 8+, Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+.

Following the races, an awards ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Directions to the regatta from Tulsa 
Take I-44 east to Exit #241 (Oklahoma Highway 66) towards Claremore/Catoosa.
Travel northeast along Oklahoma 66 for approximately four miles.
Rogers Point Park is located approximately 2.5 miles north of the Catoosa city limits.
Turn right into the entrance into Rogers Point Park.







Schedule of Events
(Note: This schedule is a floating schedule.  If barge breaks are not needed, they will not be taken.  The breaks may also be moved earlier or later if needed.)
9:00 a.m. - Women's Varsity 8+ Heat 1
9:12 a.m. - Women's Varsity 8+ Heat 2
9:24 a.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Heat 1
9:36 a.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Heat 2
9:48 a.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Heat 3
10:00 a.m. - Men's Varsity 8+ Grand Final
10:10 a.m.-10:35 a.m. - Barge Break
10:48 a.m. - Women's Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final
11:00 a.m. - Women's Novice 8+ Grand Final
11:12 a.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Petite Final
11:24 a.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Grand Final
11:36 a.m. - Men's Varsity 4+ Grand Final
11:36 a.m.-11:50 a.m. - Barge Break
12:00 p.m. - Women's Novice 4+ Grand Final
12:12 p.m. - Men's Novice 4+ Grand Final
12:24 p.m. - Women's Varsity 4+ Exhibition
12:36 p.m. - Women's Varsity 8+ Petite Final
12:48 p.m. - Women's Varsity 8+ Grand Final
1:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony