ROWING FALLS TO UC DAVIS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1998

4/7/2007

GOLD RIVER, Calif. – UC Davis’ varsity eight defeated Sacramento State by half a second and claimed its first Jean Runyon Cup since 1998 on Saturday morning at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.

Both schools’ varsity eight boats compete annually for the Jean Runyon Cup, and the rivalry had been lopsided in Sacramento State’s favor. In fact, the Hornets’ varsity eight had posted wins over UC Davis eight consecutive years until today’s defeat. The Aggies’ last victory came in 1998. Sacramento State still leads the all-time series, 9-2, as the two programs began racing for the Jean Runyon Cup in 1997.

Today’s race had also big implications in this year’s race for the Causeway Cup, an annual all-sports competition between the two schools. With today’s victory, UC Davis took a narrow lead in the this year’s Cup standings as the Aggies now lead the Hornets, 48.67-46.00. In the closest battle since the two schools began competing for the Causeway Cup in 2004-05, only six more competitions (with just 8.66 points available) remain between the two schools. Those will take place on April 10 (softball doubleheader in Sacramento), April 13 (men’s tennis match in Sacramento), May 8 (baseball game in Davis) and May 16 (baseball game in Davis). For complete Causeway Cup standings, click here. Sacramento State won the last year’s Causeway Cup and UC Davis won two years ago.

UC Davis’ varsity eight raced to a winning time of 6:48.0 over 2,000 meters, finishing just ahead of Sacramento State, which finished at 6:48.5. In last year’s race, the Hornets won by nearly six seconds, but the Aggies closed the gap this season and narrowly finished ahead of Sacramento State today. The Hornets, who dropped to 8-1 in dual meets this year, had their streak of 30 consecutive dual meet victories snapped with the loss. Sacramento State had not lost a dual since 2003.

UC Davis was also victorious in the second varsity eight competition with a time of 6:49.4, followed by Sacramento State A  (7:01.5) and Sacramento State B (7:02.0). The Hornets’ second varsity eight dropped to 4-1 in dual meets, and 14-2 dating back to 2004.

UC Davis made it a clean sweep in the eights races as the Aggies’ novice eight won its competition with a time of 7:04.8. The Hornets’ novice eight finished at 7:08.1

Sacramento State did win the varsity four competition with a time of 7:39.9, and the Aggies won the novice four race with a time of 7:43.2.

The Hornets will take a week off before competing at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships in Oakridge, Tenn., on April 21-22.

VARSITY EIGHT: Ashley Platner at coxswain, Aimee Chenard at stroke, Meghyn Cox at seven, Janine LaCrosse at six, Krista Hill at five, Holly Hopkins at four, Constance Deslauriers at three, Chelsea Semrau at two and Ruthie Van Esso at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (A): Kelly Major at coxswain, Anne Morrison at stroke, Kellie Cook at seven, Kyle Johnston at six, Sherry Payne at five, Ashley Loucks at four, Kristin Carlson at three, Jenna Duale at two and Justine Fernandez at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (B): Erin DeGoede at coxswain, Nicole Cavanagh at stroke, Catherine Woerner at seven, Alicia Tarkenton at six, Michelle McMullen at five, Lenore Meehan at four, Sandra Miller at three, Aleisha DeCindis at two and Megan Riggs at bow.

NOVICE EIGHT: Katie Bossenmaier at coxswain, Alyse Marlatt at stroke, Michelle Stern at seven, Victoria Jackson at six, Rayelynn Majoewsky at five, Jenna Tofanelli at four, Kayla Wright at three, Kaitlin Schnaars at two, Molly Davis at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (A): Platner at coxswain, Chenard at stroke, Hill at three, LaCrosse at two and Van Esso at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (B): DeGoede at coxswain, Cavanagh at stroke, Woerner at three, Meehan at two and DeCindis at bow.

NOVICE FOUR (A): Bossenmaier at coxswain, Stern at stroke, Marlatt at three, Majoewsky at two and Jackson at bow.

NOVICE FOUR (B): Teresa Seich at coxswain, Megan Emmons at stroke, Natalie Thomas at three, Lauren King at two and Vanessa Dotson at bow.

SATURDAY’S WOMEN’S RESULTS

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
1. UC Davis  6:49.4
2. Sacramento State A  7:01.5
3. Sacramento State B  7:02.0

VARSITY EIGHT
1. UC Davis  6:48.0
2. Sacramento State  6:48.5

VARSITY FOUR
1. Sacramento State A  7:39.9
2. UC Davis B  7:46.0
3. UC Davis A  7:46.8
4. Sacramento State B  7:59.0

NOVICE EIGHT
1. UC Davis B  7:04.8
2. UC Davis A  7:07.4
3. Sacramento State  7:08.1

NOVICE FOUR
1. UC Davis A  7:43.2
2. Sacramento State A  8:04.4
3. Sacramento State B  8:11.7
4. UC Davis B  8:45.7