Sacramento State''s varsity eight, which entered the regatta as the No. 2 seed, advanced to the grand final after finishing first in its heat on Saturday. The Hornets’ top boat has now won a medal at the WIRA Championships in six of the last seven years, including a second-place finish last season. The WIRA regatta serves as the conference championships for the Hornets.

The gold medal for Sacramento State''s novice eight was the first in school history as the boat has made big improvement over the last three years. The team failed to reach the grand final in 2003 and jumped to a second-place grand final finish in 2004 before winning gold this season. The Hornets'' novice eight advanced to the grand final by virtue of its first-place finish in yesterday''s heat.

Sacramento State''s second varsity eight medaled for the fourth-straight year, which includes a gold medal last season, a silver in 2003 and a bronze in 2002. The Hornets'' second varsity eight also placed first in its heat on Saturday to advance to today''s grand final.

A total of five Sacramento State boats competed on Sunday, including a second-place grand final finish in the pair, and a fifth-place finish in the the novice four grand final. The Hornets had four student-athletes named to the all-WIRA team comprised of Brittney Claycamp, Laura Harder and Jamie Weatherfield (all three were first team selections) and Janine LaCrosse (second team).

In today''s varsity eight grand final, Gonzaga won its second gold medal in the last four years with a winning time of 6:45.7, followed by Loyola Marymount (6:48.1), Sacramento State (6:49.5), Western Washington (6:54.5), Puget Sound (6:55.6) and San Diego (6:59.2).

In the second varsity eight grand final, Gonzaga raced to a winning time of 6:57.8, followed by the Hornets (6:59.6), UC Davis (6:59.7), San Diego State (7:08.1), Puget Sound (7:08.3) and Loyola Marymount (7:09.8).

In the novice eight grand final, the Hornets had a winning time of 7:06.5, followed by San Diego State (7:07.8), UC Davis (7:11.9), UC San Diego (7:13.7), San Diego (7:14.5) and Orange Coast College (7:25.8).

In the pair grand final, UC Irvine raced to first-place time of 8:21.4, followed by Sacramento State (8:26.8), UC San Diego (8:40.9), Pacific Lutheran (8:45.7) and Puget Sound (9:20.4).

The novice four grand final saw Gonzaga finish with a winning time of 7:46.8, followed by UC Santa Barbara (7:52.0), UC San Diego (8:03.3), Saint Mary''s (8:12.8), Sacramento State (8:26.6) and Cal’s Lightweights (8:40.9).

Sacramento State concludes the regular season in two weeks as the team will compete in both the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships (May 14) and the Pacific-10 Conference Championships (May 15). Both regattas will take place at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma.

SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS FROM SUNDAY:

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.

PAIR: Ridlon and Woerner.

SUNDAY''S SACRAMENTO STATE RESULTS

Varsity Eight Grand Final

1. Gonzaga 6:45.7

2. Loyola Marymount 6:48.1

3. Sacramento State 6:49.5

4. Western Washington 6:54.5

5. Puget Sound 6:55.6

6. San Diego 6:59.2

Second Varsity Eight Grand Final

1. Gonzaga 6:57.8

2. Sacramento State 6:59.6

3. UC Davis 6:59.7

4. San Diego State 7:08.1

5. Puget Sound 7:08.3

6. Loyola Marymount 7:09.8

Novice Eight Grand Final

1. Sacramento State 7:06.5

2. San Diego State 7:07.8

3. UC Davis 7:11.9

4. UC San Diego 7:13.7

5. San Diego 7:14.5

6. Orange Coast College 7:25.8

Novice Four Grand Final

1. Gonzaga 7:46.8

2. UC Santa Barbara 7:52.0

3. UC San Diego 8:03.3

4. Saint Mary''s 8:12.8

5. Sacramento State 8:26.6

6. Cal Lightweights 8:40.9

Pair Grand Final

1. UC Irvine 8:21.4

2. Sacramento State 8:26.8

3. UC San Diego 8:40.9

4. Pacific Lutheran 8:45.7

5. Puget Sound 9:20.4