ROWING ADVANCES ALL SIX BOATS TO SUNDAY’S WIRA GRAND FINALS
5/3/2008
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Sacramento State women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four, novice lightweight four and pair each finished among the top three boats in their respective heats Saturday in the first day of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships at Lake Natoma.
The Hornets’ varsity four placed first in its heat, while the second varsity eight, novice eight, novice lightweight four and pair all finished second, and the varsity eight finished third. All six boats will compete in tomorrow’s grand final, as the Hornets will look to win their third consecutive WIRA team title. The WIRA Championships is one of the biggest regattas of the season for Sacramento State as it serves as the team’s conference championship.
Last season, Sacramento State won its fifth WIRA team tile (1995, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007) since the program gained intercollegiate status in 1995. The team’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four, novice four and pair each finished among the top five boats in their respective grand finals last season to deliver the team title.
Today, the Hornets’ varsity eight (the team’s top boat) placed third in its five-boat heat with a time of 6:51.2, trailing Western Washington’s first-place time of 6:42.0. Sacramento State will take on Gonzaga, Western Washington, San Diego, UC Davis and San Diego State in tomorrow’s grand final which begins at 11:50 a.m.
The team’s second varsity eight placed second in its seven-boat heat with a time of 7:12.7. UC Davis finished first in the heat with a time of 7:03.8. Sacramento State will take on UC Davis, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Western Washington and Loyola Marymount in tomorrow’s grand final at 10:30 a.m.
In Sacramento State’s novice eight heat, UC Davis paced the six-boat field with a time of 7:11.8, followed by the Hornets’ second-place time of 7:21.9. In tomorrow’s novice eight grand final at 10 a.m., the Hornets will take on Gonzaga, UC Davis, San Diego State, Orange Coast College and Willamette.
The novice lightweight four grand final will take place at 8 a.m., the pair is scheduled for 8:40 a.m., and the varsity four grand final is at 9:40 a.m.
Sunday’s full slate of racing, which includes 24 races (13 on the women’s side, 11 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 11:50 a.m. with the women’s varsity eight grand final. Award ceremonies begin at 12:45 p.m.
WOMEN’S NOVICE LIGHTWEIGHT FOUR (Heat 1)
1. Willamette 8:17.5
2. Sacramento State 8:22.0
3. Pacific Lutheran 8:26.8
4. UC San Diego 8:36.1
5. UC Santa Barbara 8:38.7
WOMEN’S VARSITY EIGHT (Heat 1)
1. Western Washington 6:42.0
2. UC Davis 6:45.2
3. Sacramento State 6:51.2
4. Puget Sound 6:52.1
5. Loyola Marymount 7:03.8
WOMEN’S NOVICE EIGHT (Heat 2)
1. UC Davis 7:11.8
2. Sacramento State 7:21.9
3. Pacific Lutheran 7:27.9
4. UC Irvine 7:32.3
5. Long Beach State 7:35.3
6. Sonoma State 7:52.4
WOMEN’S VARSITY FOUR (Heat 1)
1. Sacramento State 7:49.2
2. Saint Mary’s 8:03.8
3. Seattle Pacific 8:14.7
4. Chapman 8:27.8
5. UC Irvine 8:47.6
6. Mills College 8:53.2
WOMEN’S SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (Heat 2)
1. UC Davis 7:03.8
2. Sacramento State 7:12.7
3. Western Washington 7:17.4
4. Puget Sound 7:28.2
5. Santa Clara 7:37.1
6. UC San Diego 7:44.7
7. UC Santa Barbara 8:10.6
WOMEN’S PAIR (Heat 1)
1. Long Beach State 9:01.1
2. Sacramento State 9:16.1
3. Pacific 9:32.7
4. UC San Diego 9:59.8
5. Puget Sound 10:41.5
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Sacramento State women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four, novice lightweight four and pair each finished among the top three boats in their respective heats Saturday in the first day of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships at Lake Natoma.
