ROWING’S VARSITY EIGHT TAKES FIRST IN ITS HEAT, ADVANCES TO CREW CLASSIC’S CAL CUP GRAND FINAL

4/4/2009

SAN DIEGO – The Sacramento State women’s varsity eight posted the fastest time in its heat during the first day of the San Diego Crew Classic Saturday morning at Crown Point Shores Park in Mission Bay. With the victory, the boat advanced to Sunday morning’s Cal Cup grand final.

In tomorrow’s grand final, which takes place at 10:20 a.m., the Hornets’ top boat will face Kansas State, San Diego, St. Joseph’s, Saint Mary’s and Stanford’s lightweight crew. The Hornets placed fourth in the Cal Cup grand final last year, fourth in 2006, and third in 2005. The team is seeking its first Cal Cup championship since 2000.

The Hornets won their heat by open water with a time of 7:05.32 over 2,000 meters, followed by Stanford’s Lightweights (7:12.19), Georgetown (7:15.53), Villanova (7:17.60), Colorado (7:20.01), Long Beach State (7:50.16) and Arizona State (7:56.66). The top two teams in each of the three varsity eight heats advanced to the grand final, the third and fourth place teams advanced to the petite final. The remaining boats advanced to the third final.

Sacramento State’s second varsity eight placed fourth in its heat, and will advance to tomorrow’s Collegiate JV petite final (8:10 a.m.) where the team will take on Miami, Iowa, UCLA, Washington State and San Diego State.

The Hornets’ novice eight placed third in its heat with a time of 7:32.17, trailing Washington State (7:19.45) and UCLA (7:22.00). The San Diego Crew Classic is only offering a grand final in the novice eight category, so the Hornets’ novice run at the regatta comes to a close..

Sacramento State’s lineups and results from today are listed below.

SACRAMENTO STATE’S LINEUPS

VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Erin DeGoede, stroke - Holly Hopkins, 7 - Heather Hopkins, 6 - Anne Morrison, 5 - Kellie Cook, 4 - Alicia Tarkenton, 3 - Megan Riggs, 2 - Elizabeth Danielson, bow - Tori Jackson

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Teresa Seich, stroke - Madeleine Folco, 7 - Sandra Miller, 6 - Joanne Stacy, 5 - Michelle McMullen, 4 - Sarah Slagle, 3 - Sherry Payne, 2 - Angela Stassi, bow - Rebecca Woolston

NOVICE EIGHT
cox - Brittany Ayala, stroke - Katie Whitmire, 7 - Pam Kline, 6 - Emily Airoldi, 5 - Sadeeka Dosu, 4 - Caitlin Brennan, 3 - Stacy Wilson, 2 - Charlotte Dolan, bow - Sarah Pivonka

SACRAMENTO STATE’S RESULTS

Women’s Collegiate Varsity Cal Cup, Heat A (Varsity Eight)
1. Sacramento State 7:05.32
2. Stanford Lightweights 7:12.19
3. Georgetown 7:15.53
4. Villanova 7:17.60
5. Colorado 7:20.01
6. Long Beach State 7:50.16
7. Arizona State 7:56.66

Women’s Collegiate JV, Heat A (Second Varsity Eight)
1. USC 6:59.10
2. Michigan 7:01.71
3. Miami 7:16.92
4. Sacramento State 7:18.69
5. Kansas State 7:37.43

Women’s Collegiate Novice, Heat c (Novice Eight)
1. Washington State 7:19.45
2. 2. UCLA 7:22.0
3. Sacramento State 7:32.17
4. San Diego State 7:32.76
5. San Diego 7:50.21
6. Long Beach State 8:15.58
7. Pacific 8:33.25