SEATTLE – Inclement weather kept the Falcons' fleet home. But it didn't keep them off the water.

Seattle Pacific parlayed a home-course advantage into wins in four of five races against crosstown rival Seattle University, Saturday morning in the Raptor Cup on the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

SPU won all three women's races to record a 14-9 win in the team standings. The teams split the two men's events, giving the Redhawks a 7-6 edge in the team total.

The Falcons were scheduled to travel to Vancouver, Wash. for the annual National College Rowing Conference Invitational on Saturday. That regatta was canceled on Friday due to anticipated high winds and unpredictable water conditions on Vancouver Lake.

The SPU trailer was already loaded with SU's racing shells and, after the Husky Invitational on Lake Washington was also canceled, the two Seattle schools decided to renew their dual series. The Raptor Cup had not been contested since 2002.

“We threw this together Friday night,” said SPU coach Keith Jefferson. “I am confident that we possess the only race course in the entire Northwest that was able to pull off a 2,000-meter race today.”

The Falcons' course is fairly well protected from the elements with land straddling both sides of the Ship Canal for the entire length. The course starts under the Fremont Bridge and travels west toward the Ballard Bridge.

The weather was still a factor Saturday.

"It was sunny, but very cold with winds at 13 miles per hour that gusted up to 26,” Jefferson described. “There was a serious tailwind for virtually every race, but also crosswinds in the last 1,000 meters. The times were somewhat fast as a result of this, but not blazing fast.”

The Falcons women's varsity eight crew, ranked No. 4 nationally among NCAA Division II competitors, handily won with a time of 7-minutes, 12-seconds. They crossed the line 51 seconds ahead of SU, which finished in 8:03.0.

SPU was a near 30-second victor in the women's varsity four competition with a winning time of 7:49.99. The Redhawks' second-place time was 8:19.56.

The novice fours staged the tightest women's race. The Falcons won by nine seconds, finishing in 8:25.87 to 8:34.95 for SU.

The fastest time of the day came in the men's novice four race that also produced the most lopsided margin. SPU completed the 2,000-meter course in 7:04.77 and the Redhawks finished in 8:14.64.

The one Seattle U victory came in the men's varsity four event. The Redhawks first-place time of 7:08.9 put them one boat-length ahead of SPU. The Falcons entered a lightweight four in the race that clocked a time of 7:11.84.

The Raptor Cup was the third of eight regattas on the 2010 schedule for the Seattle Pacific crews.

Next week, weather permitting, the Falcons will compete at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Saturday, April 10. The races take place on Dexter Lake in Lowell, Ore., near Eugene.


NCAA Rowing
Raptor Cup
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Lake Washington Ship Canal/Seattle, Wash.
(all races were 2,000 meters)

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Team Scores
1, Seattle Pacific 14; 2, Seattle University 9.


Varsity Eight
1, Seattle Pacific, 7:12.0; 2, Seattle University, 8:03.0.

    SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, stroke-Katie Degner, 7-Lauren Anderson, 6-Eleni Johnsen, 5-Katja Ibsen, 4- Katy Stine, 3-Alli Agnew, 2- Lacey Sheridan, bow-Kristin Lorenzen.


Varsity Four
1, Seattle Pacific, 7:49.99; 2, Seattle University, 8:19.56.

    SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, stroke- Katy Stine, 3- Katja Ibsen, 2-Eleni Johnsen, bow- Lacey Sheridan.


Novice Four
1, Seattle Pacific, 8:25.87; 2, Seattle University, 8:34.95.

    SPU lineup: cox-Missy Spoelstra, stroke-Dani Ferrigno, 3-Sarah Lanter, 2-Belle Fritsch, bow-Mackenzie Oscar.



MEN'S RESULTS

Team Scores
1, Seattle University 7; 2, Seattle Pacific 6.


Varsity/Lightweight Four
1, Seattle University, 7:08.9; 2, Seattle Pacific, 7:11.84.

    SPU lineup: cox-Kristi Tamaki, stroke-David Peterson, 3-Carter Swanson, 2-Greg Ballard, bow-Donovan Fisk.


Novice Four
1, Seattle Pacific, 7:04.77; 2, Seattle University, 8:14.64.

    SPU lineup: cox-Kristi Tamaki, stroke-Dain Carley, 3-Matt Norgren, 2-Phillip Mach, bow-Donovan Fisk.