• Day 2, May 29 Results (pdf)
  • Day 3, May 30 Heat Sheet (pdf)
  • Live Results
  • Day 1, May 28 Recap
  • May 29 PHOTO GALLERY
  • May 28 PHOTO GALLERY
  • May 27 PHOTO GALLERY
  • SPU Rowing Release (pdf)
  • Rowing Report #1 -- Katy Stine
  • Rowing Report #2 -- Eleni Johnson
  • Rowing Report #3 -- Lauren Anderson
  • Live Regatta Webcast
  • NCAA Rowing homepage


RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Saturday's phenomenal finish guaranteed that Seattle Pacific will stand on the medal platform Sunday.

The fourth-ranked Falcons staged a sensational comeback, overtaking two boats during the final 700 meters to win the repechage race and earn a grand finals berth at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships on Lake Natoma.

Joining SPU in Sunday's Division II championship race will be repechage runner-up Barry (Fla.), ranked No. 3, along with the winners of Friday's heats, No. 1 Western Washington and No. 2 Mercyhurst (Pa.). WWU is the five-time defending champion in the varsity eight and team competitions.

Saturday's thrilling triumph ensured that the Falcons will medal as a team. They can finish no lower than third place in the standings and they have an opportunity to claim the silver. This is the first time SPU has qualified to participate in the team competition.

“I never really thought it could end like this, that it would culminate in possible a second-place team finish. It's really exciting,” exclaimed junior Emily Pitts, who pulls the No. 7 oar for the Falcons. “We had a great final race last year and I'm excited for our final race this year.”

Last year as an at-large varsity eight entry, SPU made it first ever NCAA grand finals appearance and rowed to a third-place performance.

REMARKABLE RALLY

The outlook didn't look so rosy for the Falcons halfway through the varsity eight repechage.

Barry streaked out to an early lead and held an open-water advantage as they passed the 1,000-meter buoy. Philadelphia University was rowing in second, six seats ahead of SPU.

“They demonstrated discipline the whole way,” Coach Keith Jefferson said about his top crew. “It's so common for people to try to take a whack at it too soon and it can throw you off of your game.

“When the announcer started calling that we were six seats and open water down, some crews might start to wonder if they can close that gap. Our crew really rose to the occasion.”

Just past the midway mark, the Falcons made an impressive charge that erased the six-seat deficit and propelled them into second place. With 500 meters to go, Barry led by one length with SPU slightly ahead of Philadelphia.

The Falcons covered the final quarter of the 2,000-meter race more than five seconds faster than Barry. They surged into first place during the last 150 meters and got the finish line first, four seats ahead of Barry.

SPU clocked a time of 6-minutes, 54.63 seconds and Barry was second in 6:56.20. Philadelphia (7:02.59) and Florida Tech (7:09.74) finished third and fourth, respectively, and will square off in Sunday's petite final.

“That was a dream right there,” senior stroke Katie Degner described. “We were just chomping at the bit through the whole race to get to that final stretch where we know we can just unload. That's what we were all waiting for, just holding composure until we get to that point.

“We're confident enough in our abilities to be composed and make it through to the end of that race. Once that sprint started, it felt so easy. It was just kind of a surreal experience.”

GOING TO THE GRAND FINAL

The Falcons have little time to revel in their remarkable repechage result. They turn their thoughts to Sunday's four-boat grand final race against formidable foes.

Seattle Pacific has already raced all of its championship rivals earlier this season. The varsity eight lost in both previous meetings against WWU and Mercyhurst. The Falcons were defeated twice earlier this month before finally beating Barry on Saturday.

“Tomorrow's grand final will be a good challenge,” said Pitts. “We have a lot of worthy opponents in that race. I would rather have worthy opponents than to just be able to walk all over people effortlessly. It will make for a great ending race.”

FINAL RACE FOR VARSITY FOUR

For the first time in school history, SPU had a four-oared crew competing at the NCAA Championships. The Falcons first foray into the national regatta ended Saturday with a second-place effort in the varsity four repechage.

Florida Tech led wire-to-wire and finished in 7:56.to clinch a spot in the grand finals. SPU posted a solid second-place time of 8:11.05.

“I'm so proud of them. They had a tough race and a bigger struggle dealing with the cross wind and the gusty conditions,” Jefferson said. “But for all of that, they rowed pretty clean. In their own humble way, they were the springboard for us to get here.

“After today's race they recalled a meeting we had early in the season when I told them they had to take a minute off their time in order to get to nationals. They all looked at me like I was crazy. Well, they took off a minute and a half, making it possible for us to get a team bid to the NCAAs. The four was just awesome this year.”


NCAA WOMEN'S ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Lake Natoma/Rancho Cordova, Calif.
All races were 2,000 meters

Division II Varsity Eight Repechage
(Top two to grand final, rest to petite final)

1, Seattle Pacific, 6:54.63
2, Barry, 6:56.20
3, Philadelphia University, 7:02.59
4, Florida Tech, 7:09.74

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


Division II Varsity Four Repechage
(Winner to grand final)

1, Florida Tech, 7:56.39
2, Seattle Pacific, 8:11.05

    SPU lineup: cox-Kristi Tamaki, stroke-Kristin Lorenzen, 3-Dani Ferrigno, 2-Belle Fritsch, bow-Mackenzie Oscar.

 
Division II Varsity Eight Grand Final
Sunday, May 30 – 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time

Lane 1 – Mercyhurst
Lane 2 – Western Washington
Lane 3 – Barry
Lane 4 – Seattle Pacific