ROWING WINS SILVER, POSTS SECOND BEST FINISH IN SCHOOL HISTORY AT SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC
4/5/2009
SAN DIEGO – The Sacramento State women’s varsity eight won a silver medal in the San Diego Crew Classic’s Cal Cup grand final Sunday morning at Crown Point Shores Park in Mission Bay.
The silver medal marked the second highest finish at the event for the Hornets in school history, trailing only the 2000 team’s first-place finish. The Hornets had placed fourth in last year’s Cal Cup grand final, four in 2006 and third in 2005.
Sacramento State, which advanced to the grand final yesterday after winning its heat, rowed to a second-place time of 7:14.06 over 2,000 meters, narrowly trailing St. Joseph’s winning time of 7:12.26. The six-boat field also featured Kansas State (7:14.34), San Diego (7:18.99), Saint Mary’s (7:21.33) and Stanford’s lightweight crew (7:24.24).
San Diego and Saint Mary’s are both members of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association, which is the Hornets’ conference. In fact, Sacramento State’s varsity eight has yet to lose to a conference opponent this year, including victories over Santa Clara and San Diego State as well.
The top two boats from each of the three varsity eight heats yesterday advanced to the grand final, and Sacramento State finished first in its heat. However, the Hornets had the fifth fastest time of the three heats, but made up ground today in this morning’s grand final.
Sacramento State’s second varsity eight also competed today in the Collegiate JV Petite Final, and finished sixth with a time of 7:17.64. That time trailed boats from Washington State (6:56.70), Iowa, UCLA, San Diego State and Miami. The Hornets’ second varsity eight advanced to the petite final after finishing fourth in its heat yesterday morning.
Sacramento State is idle next week before returning to its home water when the team hosts the Lake Natoma Invitational on April 18-19. The Lake Natoma Invitational will feature a powerhouse lineup that includes six nationally ranked varsity eight crews, including No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Cal, No. 13 UCLA, No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 17 Minnesota and No. 19 Tennessee. Sacramento State, Texas and Central Florida will also be competing at the regatta.
State’s lineups and results from today are listed below.
Women’s Collegiate Varsity Cal Cup (Varsity Eight)
1. St. Joseph’s 7:12.26
2. Sacramento State 7:14.06
3. Kansas State 7:14.34
4. San Diego 7:18.99
5. Saint Mary’s 7:21.33
6. Stanford Lightweights 7:24.24
Women’s Collegiate JV Petite Final (Second Varsity Eight)
1. Washington State 6:56.7
2. Iowa 7:06.43
3. UCLA 7:06.76
4. San Diego State 7:12.78
5. Miami 7:15.37
6. Sacramento State 7:17.64
SAN DIEGO – The Sacramento State women’s varsity eight won a silver medal in the San Diego Crew Classic’s Cal Cup grand final Sunday morning at Crown Point Shores Park in Mission Bay. 
