Feb. 1, 2002
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This Week
The San Diego State rowing team get its 2002 spring season underway on Saturday by competing at the San Diego Indoor Classic. The event is hosted by the San Diego Rowing Club on Mission Bay. Racing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
About The S.D. Indoor Classic
The San Diego Indoor Classic is an official qualifying regatta for the World Indoor Championships. Athletes who meet qualifying standards will be eligible to compete in the World Indoor Championships held in Boston on Feb. 24. The indoor classic will send the top 4 individuals, who meet or better the qualifying times, to Boston. Competitors will race on new Concept 2 ergometers. All races will be 2,000 meters.
Last Time We Were Out
The Aztecs defended its crown at the San Diego Fall Classic on Nov. 11, placing first in the regatta's varsity eight race for the third consecutive year. It was the Aztecs' "A" team that earned the top spot in the varsity eight, racing to a time of 22:26 - 11 seconds faster than its closest competitor. The squad's "B" team finished fifth with a time of 23:12. SDSU also posted wins in the open four and novice eight portion of competition. The Aztecs' "A" boat finished the open four in a time of 24:34. The SDSU Alumni team helped claim a 1-2 sweep in the event with a 25:05 second-place clocking. It was the team's "C" boat that took top honors in the novice eight, crossing the finish line in 24:12. The "A" and "B" teams finished third (24:37) and fifth (24:59), respectively. SDSU also competed in the novice four event where it placed second (24:59).
SDSU This Season
Prior to the San Diego Fall Classic, SDSU was in Newport, Calif., for the Autumn Rowing Festival. The Aztecs came away from that event with four top-five finishes. The team's varsity eight "A" team finished in fifth place in a 22-team field with a time of 16:56. In the day's novice eight event, the SDSU "B" team's time of 18:02 helped it secure second place out of 25 teams. The Aztecs scored a 3-4 finish in the open-four event, with the "A" team finishing in 18:49 and the "B" team in 18:51. The SDSU alumni team, made up of last year's graduates, finished second in the competition with a time of 18:27. On Oct 21, SDSU's varsity eight squad competed in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. The boat placed 44th in a field consisting on the nation's best crews with a time of 18:16.46.
Aztec Coaching Staff
SDSU is led by fifth-year head coach Scott Steckel. Steckel is assisted by Kevin Waldick, in his fourth year with the Aztec program and first-year assistant Meredith Johnson. Steckel is a 1994 graduate of San Diego State and has coached the program since 1993 when it was a club sport. Waldick is also an SDSU alum and rowed on the school's men's club team from 1992-96. Johnson is also a graduate of SDSU and was an All-American rower for the Aztecs in 2000.
Looking Ahead
SDSU will scrimmage with Orange Coast College and USD on Feb. 23 in Mission Bay. On Mar. 2 the team will hold its annual alumni race. On Mar. 9, the Aztecs will compete against Loyola Marymount and UC Irvine in the Parker Cup Regatta held at Mission Bay.