ROWING CONCLUDES 2007 SEASON WITH THIRD PLACE FINISH IN THE PETITE FINAL AT THE PAC-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS

5/13/2007

GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- Sacramento State’s women’s varsity eight concluded its season with a third-place finish in the petite final - 1.1 seconds ahead of UC Davis - at the Pacific-10 Conference Women’s Rowing Championships Sunday at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma.

The Hornets avenged an earlier loss to UC Davis this season by finishing the 2,000 meter course with a time of 6:50.1, slightly ahead of the Aggies’ fourth-place time of 6:51.2. Washington State placed first in the petite final with a time of 6:41.9, followed by Gonzaga (6:44.3) and Sacramento State to round out the top three in a six-boat field.

But the day belonged to USC, which placed boats in the grand finals of all four events (varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four). The Trojans raced to a first-place finish in the varsity eight grand final with a time of 6:39.8, and claimed their first Pac-10 team title since the conference began fielding women’s rowing championships in 1987. Prior to today, either Cal (2004-06), Washington (1987-89, 1992-03) or UCLA (1990-91) had won the women’s team title every year since the advent of the Pac-10 Women’s Rowing Championships.

The Trojans also placed third in both the varsity four and second varsity eight grand finals, and sixth in the novice eight grand final. Varsity eight grand final results included USC in first place, followed by Stanford (6:43.3), Cal (6:44.5), UCLA (6:48.7), Oregon State (6:50.5) and Washington (6:55.3).

The Pacific-10 Conference Championships is limited to the top 21 entrants for each event in the West Region, which includes each of the seven Pac-10 rowing institutions (Cal, Washington State, Stanford, Oregon State, Washington, UCLA and USC).

The Pac-10’s mark the conclusion of the women’s rowing regular season. Since the advent of the NCAA Championships in 1997, holding the Pac-10’s on the final weekend allows the selection committee to compare virtually all the West Coast (Pac-10 and non Pac-10) crews under comparable race conditions. With no time standard to meet, boats competing in the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships will be named by a selection committee this Tuesday, May 15, at 1 p.m.

Sacramento State fielded boats in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four competitions. Each boat reached the petite final of their respective events, with the varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four each placing third, and the second varsity eight finishing fourth in its petite final. The finish for the Hornets’ varsity eight marked the second straight year the team has placed third in the petite final at the Pac-10’s.

The top three boats in each of the morning’s qualifying heats advanced to this afternoon’s grand finals while places 4-6 in each qualifying heat reached the petite finals. Sacramento State finished fifth in each of its varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four qualifying heats. Sacramento State’s race results can be found below and complete results from every race are attached above the story.

Sacramento State’s season comes to a close today as the team recently won its second consecutive Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) team title. The WIRA’s serve as the team’s conference championships. In dual meets this year, the Hornets’ varsity eight finished the year 8-1, the second varsity eight was 4-1, and the novice eight went 7-2. Next year, the Hornets will return all but two rowers (Constance Deslauriers and Janine LaCrosse) from this year’s varsity eight. In fact, the entire team loses just five student-athletes heading into next year from a roster that was already one of the deepest in program history.

TODAY’S SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS

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

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT: Kelly Major at coxswain, Ashley Loucks at stroke, Meghyn Cox at seven, Anne Morrison at six, Kellie Cook at five, Lenore Meehan at four, Megan Riggs at three, Kristin Carlson at two and Aleisha DeCindis at bow.

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

VARSITY FOUR: Erin DeGoede at coxswain, Dani Thole at stroke, Catherine Woerner at three, Kyle Johnston at two and Justine Fernandez at bow.

SACRAMENTO STATE’S RESULTS

Varsity Four, Heat 1
1. Gonzaga  7:27.4
2. Stanford  7:29.9
3. Washington State  7:31.6
4. Cal  7:32.9
5. Sacramento State  7:34.1

Novice Eight, Heat 1
1. Oregon State  6:58.3
2. UCLA  6:59.7
3. USC  7:06.9
4. Cal  7:12.4
5. Sacramento State  7:30.8
6. Sonoma State  8:01.7

Second Varsity Eight, Heat 2
1. Cal  6:43.6
2. USC  6:48.5
3. Washington State  6:49.7
4. Stanford  6:51.2
5. Sacramento State  7:06.6
6. San Diego State  7:21.9

Varsity Eight, Heat 2
1. Stanford  6:35.6
2. Cal  6:36.2
3. Oregon State  6:39.2
4. Gonzaga  6:40.4
5. Sacramento State  6:55.9
6. San Diego State  7:17.2

Varsity Four Petite Final
1. UCLA  7:45.7
2. Cal  7:46.9
3. Sacramento State  8:06.2

Novice Eight Petite Final
1. Cal  7:20.9
2. UC Davis  7:23.2
3. Sacramento State  7:38.0
4. Saint Mary’s  7:50.8

Second Varsity Eight Petite Final
1. Stanford  6:58.5
2. UC Davis  7:04.0
3. Gonzaga  7:04.9
4. Sacramento State  7:05.9
5. San Diego State  7:23.7
6. Saint Mary’s  7:50.3

Varsity Eight Petite Final
1. Washington State  6:41.9
2. Gonzaga  6:44.3
3. Sacramento State  6:50.1
4. UC Davis  6:51.2
5. Saint Mary’s  7:02.1
6. San Diego State  7:18.7