The MSU women’s crew team qualified all four varsity boats Saturday for Sunday’s Grande Final at the Lexus Central Sprints Regional Championships.
But the Spartans finished fifth in Sunday’s competition with a total of 14 points, as Michigan won the competition with 120 points.
The first varsity eight boat had the best showing with a time of 6:42.4 and a fourth-place finish in the final.
The second varsity eight boat finished the final with a time of 6:55.6. The first varsity four finished with a time of 7:39.7 and the second varsity four finished in 7:23.6.
Head coach Bebe Bryans made some adjustments for Sunday’s race, but the outcome wasn’t what was planned, she said.
“I thought we made some changes that would give us some speed,” Bryans said. “But it didn’t pan out.”
Despite the disappointing outcome, Bryans said there is still a chance for the first varsity eight boat to qualify for the national championships. The national championships are made up of a field of 10 and five additional at-large bids, which Bryans hopes to receive.
“(The varsity eight) has a good chance,” she said.
Women’s golf
The MSU women’s golf team finished third at the NCAA West Regional this weekend, earning the Spartans a second-straight trip to the NCAA Championship.
The Spartans tallied a three-day total of 901, scoring 304, 298 and 299, respectively. Second-place Stanford edged MSU by 13, with a three-day total of 888. Arizona ran away with the event by shooting 868.
Senior Kasey Gant led the Spartans individually, finishing sixth overall, tying UCLA’s Laura Moffat with a three-day total of 219.
Junior Emily Bastel placed 14th with a three-day total of 223. Redshirt freshman Allison Fouch gave the Spartans a boost with her 71st-to-29th-place swing. Fouch fired a score of 230 for the Spartans. After day one, Fouch was 10 over par, but was only two over during the next two days.
The third-place regional finish is the best in MSU women’s golf history. The previous best finish was sixth place last year.
Men’s track and field
At the University of Michigan Len Paddock Invitational on Saturday, freshman Steve Manz set an MSU record with a shot put throw of 59 feet, 8 1/2 inches.
Another Spartan highlight occurred when sophomore Andy Lixey placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.11.
The men’s track and field team competes next in the 2001 Outdoor Big Ten Championships from May 18-20 in Bloomington, Ind.
Women’s track and field
Sophomore Akilah Washington led the Spartans at the Len Paddock Invitational with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.55. Sophomore Kiesha Spight finished seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.71.
The women’s team also competes next in the 2001 Outdoor Big Ten Championships from May 18-20 in Bloomington, Ind.
Football
MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill is one of 52 preseason candidates for the 2001 Lombardi Award, an award given annually to college football’s most outstanding lineman by the Rotary Club of Houston.
Men’s basketball
Graduated seniors Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson were named to the All-Tournament team at the Nike Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Bell averaged 14 points, three rebounds and three assists in three games. Hutson averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games.
Bell also added a three-point competition victory to his résumé.
