May 1, 2004
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The San Diego State women's crew team had a successful day on Saturday at the first day of the WIRA (Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association) Championships at Lake Natoma. The novice eight and junior varsity eight boats advanced to Sunday's grand finals, while the varsity eight just missed qualifying for the grand final and will be the favorite in tomorrow's petite final. The novice four won the third final on Saturday and the lightweight eight boat will compete in the grand final on Sunday as there were no heats in that event.
In Saturday's heat, the varsity eight boat battled with the University of Puget Sound for the second and last qualifying spot for the Sunday's grand final and fell just short, 6:58.4-7:00.3. Sacramento State won the heat with a time of 6:51.8.
"It was a battle between the University of Puget Sound and us all the way down the course," head coach Jennifer Zebroski said. "We had the fifth fastest qualifying time in the three heats and would have qualified for the grand final had we been in any other heat. Going into the petite final with the fastest time, we're looking to win tomorrow."
The varsity eight competes in the petite final at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday against Humboldt State, San Diego, Santa Clara, Western Washington and UC Irvine.
The junior varsity boat finished a close second to Loyola Marymount in their heat, 7:05.5-7:05.8, but still earned a qualifying spot in Sunday's grand final.
"SDSU and LMU once again fought for the first-place spot like at the Miller Cup, Parker Cup and San Diego Crew Classic," Zebroski said. "After losing by 3/10 of a second, tomorrow, we're looking to come back and edge them out."
The Aztecs and Lions will compete with Sacramento State, UC Davis, Gonzaga and UC Santa Barbara in tomorrow's junior varsity grand final at 10:40 a.m.
The Aztec novice eight boat won its heat to advance to the 10 a.m. grand final on Sunday, outdistancing Orange Coast College, 7:15.4-7:22.2.
"The novice eight had a very smooth, comfortable race to win their heat," Zebroski said. "We're excited going into the grand final tomorrow and our goal is to finish in the top three (of six)."
The novice four boat finished sixth in their heat with a time of 8:30.0, but came back to triumph in the third final, beating out Oregon, Orange Coast College and the Cal lightweight boat with a time of 8:51.0.
The lightweight eight boat did not have any heats to compete in and will participate in the grand final at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Novice Four, Heat 1
Gonzaga, 7:47.0
Saint Mary's, 7:49.0
Sonoma State, 7:49.5
UC San Diego, 7:52.0
Oregon, 8:21.0
San Diego State, 8:30.0
Novice Eight, Heat 2
San Diego State, 7:15.4
Orange Coast College, 7:22.2
UC San Diego, 7:24.1
Humboldt State, 7:33.4
Pacific Lutheran, 7:41.3
Oregon, 7:50.4
Junior Varsity Eight, Heat 3
Loyola Marymount, 7:05.5
San Diego State, 7:05.8
UC Irvine, 7:28.1
Western Washington, 7:29.4
Pacific Lutheran, 7:45.7
Varsity Eight, Heat 1
Sacramento State, 6:51.8
Puget Sound, 6:58.4
San Diego State, 7:00.3
Humboldt State, 7:07.0
UC San Diego, 7:21.4
Portland, 8:55.4
Novice Four, Third Final
San Diego State, 8:51.0
Oregon, Orange Coast College, Cal lightweights (no order or times available)
WIRA Championships Lineups
Varsity Eight
Cox Alison Abrams
Stroke Stephanie Snaman
Seven Ashley Paiko
Six Mia Lysen
Five Kristen Olson
Four Brittany McMahon
Three Sarah McKillip
Two Amanda Briggs
Bow Audrey Edney
Junior Varsity Eight
Cox Alicia Chudy
Stroke Rachel Saldivar
Seven Ashley Pfohl
Six Stephanie Loutas
Five Adora Salvati
Four Rachel Young
Three Venesa Meses
Two Amy Opielowski
Bow Korina Tonne
Lightweight Eight
Cox Caitlin Carrion
Stroke Vanessa Kenley
Seven Lynda Shuker
Six Deidra Little
Five Amanda Corvera
Four Jenny Allen
Three Coby Vandenberg
Two Kacey Boyle
Bow Rachael Vrooman
Novice Eight
Cox Caitlin Carrion
Stroke Molly Enochs
Seven Nancy Balt
Six Katie Heisinger
Five Caroline Casey
Four Caitlin Weber
Three Maryann Wahhab
Two Jenny Haught
Bow Theresa Goody
Novice Four
Cox Aileen Gonzales
Stroke Christy McDonald
Three Leah Ihde
Two Penny Stieneke
Bow Jen Newman