The WIRA regatta is one of the biggest events of the season for Sacramento State as it serves as the team’s conference championship. By virtue of their first-place finishes, the Hornets’ varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and novice four each advance to Sunday’s grand finals in their respective events. The Hornets will be looking to sweep gold medals in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and novice eight grand finals for the first time in school history on Sunday.

Sacramento State’s varsity eight (the team’s top boat) has not won a WIRA championship since the 2001 season when the team won the second of back-to-back titles. In today’s heat, the Hornets posted a winning time of 7:12.8, followed by Puget Sound (7:15.1), UC Santa Barbara (7:18.7), Saint Mary’s (7:33.9), Pacific Lutheran (7:34.0) and Oregon (7:39.8). The top two boats in each heat advance to the grand final, the third and fourth-place finishers reach the petite final, and the fifth and sixth-place finishers get slotted into the third-level final. In Sunday’s varsity eight grand final, which begins at noon, the Hornets will take on Puget Sound, Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga, Western Washington and San Diego.

The Hornets’ second varsity eight posted a winning time of 7:16.8 in its heat, followed by UC Davis (7:17.9), San Diego State (7:20.1) and Pacific Lutheran (7:48.6) to round out the top four. Sacramento State’s second varsity eight will seek its second-consecutive WIRA Championships tomorrow at 10:40 a.m. when the team takes on UC Davis, Gonzaga, Puget Sound, Loyola Marymount and San Diego State.

In heat two of the novice eight competition, Sacramento State raced to a 2,000-meter winning time of 7:06.4, followed by UC Davis (7:08.5), UC Irvine (7:18.3) and UC Santa Barbara (7:21.4) to round out the top four. Sacramento State’s novice eight will look for its first-ever WIRA gold medal tomorrow at 10 a.m. when it takes on San Diego State, Orange Coast College, UC San Diego, San Diego and UC Davis.

In the novice four competition (heat two), Sacramento State won with a time of 8:21.7, followed by Cal Lightweights (8:32.3), Humboldt State (8:42.0), Long Beach State (9:20.7) and Chapman (9:38.7). The team’s novice four will race in its grand final tomorrow at 8:20 a.m.

Sacramento State’s varsity four also competed in today’s championships, posting a fifth-place time of 8:11.1 in its heat. The Hornets then placed second in the third-level final with a time of 8:51.5, trailing Sonoma State’s winning time of 8:46.0.

The Hornets’ fifth entry in tomorrow’s set of grand finals is in the pair event, which begins at 8:40 a.m.

Sunday’s full slate of racing, which includes 25 races (13 on the women’s side, 12 on the men’s side), is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. with the women’s novice lightweight four grand final and conclude at 12:10 p.m. with the men’s varsity eight competition.

SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS FROM SATURDAY:

VARSITY EIGHT LINEUP: Cecilia Vina at coxswain, Laura Harder at stroke, Ashley Roundtree at seven, Sara Crain at six, Brittney Claycamp at five, Steffanie Jakovac at four, Aimee Chenard at three, Ashley Wayman at two and Jamie Weatherfield at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT LINEUP: Megan Williams at coxswain, Ashley Borelli at stroke, Courtney Buehler at seven, Janine LaCrosse at six, Kristin Carlson at five, Jacqueline Sechser at four, Constance Deslauriers at three, Jenna Duale at two and Teresa Bitcon at bow.

NOVICE EIGHT LINEUP: Ashley Platner at coxswain, Ashley Loucks at stroke, Krista Hill at seven, Mallory Pirie at six, Meghyn Cox at five, Lenore Meehan at four, Amy Justice at three, Megan Maurer at two and Justine Fernandez at bow.

VARSITY FOUR LINEUP: Jackie Seich at coxswain, Stephanie Ridlon at stroke, Catherine Woerner at three, Coralie Wilhite at two and Tamara Srzentic at bow.

NOVICE FOUR: Lesley Ungerman at coxswain, Sheena Verduzco at stroke, Caitlin Gaffney at three, Heather Cesco at two and Sarah Hemenway at bow.

SATURDAY’S SACRAMENTO STATE RESULTS

Novice Four (Heat 2)

1. Sacramento State 8:21.7

2. Cal Lightweights 8:32.3

3. Humboldt State 8:42.0

4. Long Beach State 9:20.7

5. Chapman 9:38.7

Varsity Four (Heat 1)

1. Western Washington 7:38.5

2. Long Beach State 7:40.7

3. San Diego State 7:45.5

4. Pacific Lutheran 7:48.7

5. Sacramento State 8:11.1

6. Chapman 8:14.6

7. Colorado 8:17.3

Novice Eight (Heat 2)

1. Sacramento State 7:06.4

2. UC Davis 7:08.5

3. UC Irvine 7:18.3

4. UC Santa Barbara 7:21.4

5. Cal Lightweights 7:34.1

6. Humboldt State 7:49.7

7. Portland 7:50.4

Second Varsity Eight (Heat 1)

1. Sacramento State 7:16.8

2. UC Davis 7:17.9

3. San Diego State 7:20.1

4. Pacific Lutheran 7:48.6

5. Santa Clara 7:55.2

6. UC San Diego 8:05.7

Varsity Eight (Heat 2)

1. Sacramento State 7:12.8

2. Puget Sound 7:15.1

3. UC Santa Barbara 7:18.7

4. Saint Mary’s 7:33.9

5. Pacific Lutheran 7:34.0

6. Oregon 7:39.8

Women’s Varsity Four (Third Final)

1. Sonoma State 8:46.0

2. Sacramento State 8:51.5

3. UC Irvine 9:01.7

4. UC Santa Barbara 9:08.3

5. Lewis and Clark 9:24.0

6. Chapman 9:31.4