ROWING ADVANCES ALL SIX BOATS TO SUNDAY’S WIRA GRAND FINALS
5/2/2009
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Sacramento State women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four, novice four and second novice eight each finished among the top two boats in their respective heats Saturday in the first day of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships at Lake Natoma.
The WIRA’s serve as the Hornets’ conference championship regatta, and the team’s performance today sets up a legitimate opportunity for Sacramento State to win its third WIRA team title in the last four years when racing resumes tomorrow. The Hornets’ varsity eight and novice eight each placed first in their heats, while the second varsity eight, varsity four, second novice eight and novice four each placed second in their respective heats. All six boats will compete in tomorrow’s grand finals, marking the first time in school history that each of those boats have reached a WIRA grand final in the same year.
Sacramento State has five WIRA team titles in the trophy case (1995, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007), and the Hornets will look to add their sixth tomorrow. In addition, the Hornets’ varsity eight posted the fastest time in the two heats today (6:42.1), and will look to win its fifth WIRA title in school history, and first since the 2006 season. The varsity eight is considered the most prestigious event in rowing.
“Today was a very successful first day to the WIRA weekend,” Sacramento State head coach Mike Connors said. “Our goal was to qualify all boats for the grand finals to be in good position for medals and the team championship, and we achieved that. We are looking forward to some exciting finals and some great racing tomorrow.”
The Hornets’ varsity eight won its heat by more than five seconds, posting a time of 6:42.1, followed by UC Davis (6:47.7), San Diego State (6:54.9) and Loyola Marymount (7:01.1). Sacramento State will take on Gonzaga, San Diego, UC Davis, Saint Mary’s and San Diego State in tomorrow’s grand final at 12:10 p.m.
The team’s second varsity eight finished second in its heat with a time of 7:02.3. That time trailed San Diego State (7:00.7), and was better than UC Davis (7:03.0) and Saint Mary’s (7:22.4). The Hornets will take on Gonzaga, San Diego State, San Diego, Loyola Marymount and UC Davis in its grand final tomorrow at 10:50 a.m.
The Hornets’ novice eight won its heat by nearly three seconds, finishing with a winning time of 7:08.8, followed by San Diego State (7:11.4), Humboldt State (7:28.3), Long Beach State (7:37.4), UC San Diego (7:40.8) and Santa Clara (7:51.4). The team will face Gonzaga, Western Washington, Orange Coast College, UC Davis and San Diego State in its grand final tomorrow at 10 a.m.
The Hornets’ varsity four placed second its heat with a time of 8:03.5, and will race in its grand final at 8:10 a.m. The team’s novice four placed second in its heat with a time of 8:05.7, and will compete in its grand final at 8:40 a.m. The second novice eight placed second in its heat (7:46.0) and will race tomorrow morning at 9:20 a.m.
Sunday’s full slate of racing, which includes the grand finals for nearly every event, consists of 25 races (15 on the women’s side, 10 on the men’s side) beginning at 8 a.m. and running until the awards ceremony at 12:45 p.m.
VARSITY FOUR (Heat 1)
1. San Diego 7:46.9
2. Sacramento State 8:03.5
3. Santa Clara 8:23.9
4. Loyola Marymount 8:34.4
NOVICE FOUR (Heat 3)
1. Western Washington 7:54.6
2. Sacramento State 8:05.7
3. Sonoma State 8:15.5
4. Humboldt State 8:47.5
5. Evergreen State 9:01.7
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (Heat 2)
1. San Diego State 7:00.7
2. Sacramento State 7:02.3
3. UC Davis 7:03.0
4. Saint Mary’s 7:22.4
VARSITY EIGHT (Heat 2)
1. Sacramento State 6:42.1
2. UC Davis 6:47.7
3. San Diego State 6:54.9
4. Loyola Marymount 7:01.1
SECOND NOVICE EIGHT (Heat 2)
1. San Diego State 7:31.9
2. Sacramento State 7:46.0
3. Humboldt State 7:47.0
4. UC San Diego 8:01.7
NOVICE EIGHT (Heat 3)
1. Sacramento State 7:08.8
2. San Diego State 7:11.4
3. Humboldt State 7:28.3
4. Long Beach State 7:37.4
5. UC San Diego 7:40.8
6. Santa Clara 7:51.4
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Sacramento State women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four, novice four and second novice eight each finished among the top two boats in their respective heats Saturday in the first day of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships at Lake Natoma.
