But if they had been, KU easily would have won.

The Jayhawks won all four varsity races, only one of which was close — a performance that pleased KU coach Rob Catloth.

“I think it definitely met (expectations), and we’re still working early in the year to exceed them,” Catloth said. “We’re still trying to build on each race.”

The day culminated in a dominating performance in the First Varsity Eight, a race in which KU stacked its seniors for their last home competition.

KU and Tulsa jumped to early leads in the first 500 meters of the two-kilometer race, but the race became ugly when one of the Tulsa rowers “caught a crab.”

“It’s kind of like a fumble in football, when an oar gets caught in the water and goes over your head, and you have to get it back and get back in rhythm,” Catloth said.

Tulsa quickly recovered, but KU took advantage and gained a sizable lead by more than a boat length.

KU’s Erin Hennessey didn’t think the blunder made a difference.

“I think that we actually gained most of our water on them after they had gotten it back together,” Hennessey said.

KU expanded its lead after the halfway mark, the point Catloth said was the most critical.

“What really happens in a race is in the third 500,” Catloth said. “They were pretty strong in that part of the race.”

Senior Kristy Hainer said it was sad to leave the home course for the last time.

“You always take the mentality of leaving something better than you found it,” Hainer said.

Hennessey said this year’s senior class accomplished that goal.

“I think just as far as morale and work ethic, I think this year has been amazing, and we’ve made so many improvements over the last few years,” Hennessey said.