April 29, 2006
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The San Diego State women's rowing team got off to a successful start on Saturday at the 2006 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships, winning two preliminary events and placing second in another during the first day of competition along the shores of Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, Calif. The Aztecs' second varsity eight and varsity four boats were triumphant in their heats, while the varsity eight shell rowed to a runner-up finish in its opening race. As a result of their impressive performances, all three crews advanced to the grand final of their respective categories on Sunday.
In the second varsity eight division, SDSU captured first place in its heat with a time of 6:53.2, crossing the finish line ahead of Loyola Marymount (6:57.7) and Gonzaga (7:01.8). The victory clinched an automatic berth in Sunday's grand final, which is scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m.
The Aztecs' varsity four boat also produced a winning effort in its heat, completing the course in 7:45.9. SDSU outpaced runner-up Western Washington (7:50.5) and third-place Sonoma State (7:59.6) to secure a spot in the grand final, which is slated to get underway on Sunday at 9:40 a.m.
In varsity eight competition, the Aztecs moved into grand final after placing second in their heat with a time of 7:50.5, squeezing past Gonzaga (7:50.7) in an extremely close race. Despite finishing behind Sacramento State (6:46.6), the scarlet and black will still compete for the gold as the top two finishers in each heat qualify for Sunday's grand final, set to begin at noon.
Meanwhile, in the women's pair category, SDSU rebounded from a fourth-place showing in the preliminaries to record a lopsided victory in the petite final. The Aztecs cruised to a winning time of 8:41.7, over 45 seconds ahead of Santa Clara (9:27.5).
Rounding out Saturday's action for SDSU was a sixth-place finish in the petite final of the novice eight event, in which four boats were separated by less than five seconds in a battle for third place. The Aztecs clocked in at 7:24.1, trailing Puget Sound (7:23.5), Chapman (7:20.4) and San Diego (7:19.7).
WIRA Championships
Lake Natoma--Rancho Cordova, Calif.
(SDSU races only)
Women's Varsity Eight (D1/Open)--Heat 2
1. Sacramento State 6:46.6; 2. SDSU 6:50.4; 3. Gonzaga 6:50.7; 4. Puget Sound 6:55.4; 5. St. Mary's 6:56.6; 6. Santa Clara 7:00.6; 7. UC Irvine 7:14.5.
Women's Novice Eight--Heat 1
1. Gonzaga 6:56.4; 2. Loyola Marymount 7:21.1; 3. Sonoma State 7:22.8; 4. SDSU 7:31.6; 5. Colorado 7:33.3; 6. Cal Lights 7:33.9; 7. Portland 7:38.6.
Women's Varsity Four--Heat 3
1. SDSU 7:45.9; 2. Western Washington 7:50.5; 3. Sonoma State 7:59.6; 4. Humboldt State 8:35.0; 5. Colorado 9:39.7.
Women's Second Varsity Eight--Heat 1
1. SDSU 6:53.2; 2. LMU 6:57.7; 3. Gonzaga 7:01.8; 4. Puget Sound 7:14.5; 5. Santa Clara 7:25; 6. Pacific Lutheran 7:49.9.
Women's Pair--Heat 1 (Times not available)
1. San Diego; 2. Colorado +24.1; 3. UCI +25.3; 4. SDSU +31.7; 5. Santa Clara +1:13.6.
Women's Novice Eight--Petite Final
1. Saint Mary's 7:05.8; 2. Sonoma State 7:10.8; 3. USD 7:19.7; 4 Chapman 7:20.4; 5. Puget Sound 7:23.5; 6. SDSU 7:24.1.
Women's Pair--Petite Final
1. SDSU 8:41.7; 2. Santa Clara 9:27.5; Scratched: Sacramento State.