ROWING COMPETES IN FIRST DAY OF THE LAKE NATOMA INVITATIONAL
4/18/2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State’s women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four each competed today in the first day of the Lake Natoma Invitational at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
The two-day, nine-team regatta features a powerhouse lineup that includes five nationally ranked varsity eight crews, comprised of No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Cal, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 19 UCLA and No. 20 Minnesota. Tennessee is not ranked among the top 20 teams, but is receiving votes. Sacramento State, Texas and Central Florida round out the field.
All nine schools competed in a morning and afternoon session today, and were grouped into Sunday’s grand finals, petite finals or third-level finals based on today’s performance. Each heat during both the morning and afternoon sessions included three boats. Sacramento State’s novice eight was the only Hornet boat to advance to a grand final, as they will take on Central Florida and Cal tomorrow morning at 9:40 a.m.
The varsity eight grand final, tomorrow morning’s biggest race in magnitude, will take place at 9:20 a.m., and feature Cal, Stanford and Wisconsin.
Sacramento State’s varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four each placed third in both their heats today, and will race in third-level finals tomorrow morning. The Hornets’ varsity four will take on Central Florida and Texas at 8 a.m., the second varsity eight will face Central Florida and Texas at 8:30 a.m., and the varsity eight will take on the same two opponents (Central Florida and Texas) in its third-level final at 9 a.m.
The Hornets’ novice eight placed second in its morning heat with a time of 7:10.52, more than 14 seconds faster than third-place UCLA. That time and place was good enough to get the boat into the grand final.
Sacramento State’s varsity eight posted times of 6:50.22 in the morning, and 6:58.63 in the afternoon, but both times were only good enough for third place in the three-team field. The Hornets’ second varsity eight posted times of 7:17.06 and 7:14.94, good for third place in both heats. The Hornets’ varsity four, which was comprised primarily of novice rowers, also placed third in both its heats with times of 8:17.32 and 8:23.35 in the morning and afternoon, respectively.
Results from both the morning and afternoon sessions today, as well as Sunday’s schedule can be found by clicking on the links above the story.
SACRAMENTO STATE’S LINEUPS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State’s women’s varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four each competed today in the first day of the Lake Natoma Invitational at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
