SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Seattle Pacific's varsity eight women's crew battled the length of the Mission Bay Course with Colorado on Sunday morning before settling for third place in the petite final at the San Diego Crew Classic.
 
The Falcons clocked a time of 7-minutes, 29.10-seconds over the 2,000-meter distance in the Division II varsity eight event won by UC Davis in 7:14.90. Colorado was second in 7:23.66.
 
SPU crossed the finish line over three boat lengths ahead of Arizona State (7:46.97). Chapman placed fifth (8:04.43) and Long Beach State sixth (8:29.80).
 
First-year SPU coach Andrew Derrick began directing the team in November, missing out on the critical fall training period. One thing stood out to him about the eight rowers in his top crew after watching them race at the prestigious San Diego event.
 
"They can take pretty good strokes. Their best strokes compared well against a lot of other crews. We just need more strokes underneath our belt. It's very obvious that, starting midway through the year, fitness is a big issue for us, which is no big surprise. That's something that time can help with and having a full fall season will help.
 
"The Crew Classic has been a great experience for them. We want to do better as soon as possible, but they've come incredibly far in a short period of time."
 
UC Davis went wire-to-wire for the win, gaining open water in the initial quarter of the race. SPU and Colorado fought for the second spot. The Buffaloes led by three seats at the 750-meter mark, but couldn't gain any additional ground until the closing 500 meters.
 
At the finish, Colorado's stern was even with the Falcons bow ball.

 

Derrick believes that an encounter like the length-of-the-course clash with CU was vital for his crew's improvement.
 
"It's incredibly important. You have to be in that situation a certain number of times before you can expect to really win in that situation. It's why we race and why we talk about experience.
 
"Being able to learn how to be in a competitive situation is a huge part of the equation of staying relaxed and figuring out how to make the boat move faster."
 
The Falcons varsity eight crew features six novice competitors in their first year of collegiate rowing, including freshman coxswain Jacqueline Kemp. The trio of returning rowers are Natalie Beall, Abby Kopack and Emily Monday.
 
Western Washington was victorious in the varsity eight grand final, posting a time of 6:53.34 that provided an open-water win over Humboldt State (7:00.87). Grand Valley was third (7:07.44) followed by UC San Diego (7:09.38), Purdue (7:13.04), UC San Diego "B" (7:17.75), Orange Coast (7:20.17) and Humboldt State (7:26.41).
 
All eight of the grand finalists are listed ahead of SPU in the final standings, putting the Falcons in 11th place overall.
 
"Not to set the bar too low, but the first step was to be here. And we checked that box," Derrick said. "We're starting from the ground and building up.
 
"We'll be a lot more prepared to do well later in the season, and next season, because we were here in San Diego. We don't want to set our sights on getting 11th in the future, but we've got to get 11th before we can do better than that in years to come."
 
The SPU rowers return to action on Saturday, April 15 at the annual Covered Bridge Regatta. That event will be conducted on Dexter Lake in Lowell, Oregon.
 
 
SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Mission Bay / San Diego, Calif.
(2,000 meters, only event with SPU entry listed)
 
Women's Results
D-II varsity eight (petite final)
1, UC Davis, 7:14.90
2, Colorado, 7:23.66
3, Seattle Pacific, 7:29.10
4, Arizona State, 7:46.97
5, Chapman, 8:04.43
6, Long Beach State, 8:29.80
 
D-II varsity eight (grand final)
1, Western Washington, 6:53.34
2, Humboldt State, 7:00.87
3, Grand Valley, 7:07.44
4, UC San Diego, 7:09.38
5, Purdue, 7:13.04
6, UC San Diego "B", 7:17.75
7, Orange Coast, 7:20.17
8, Humboldt State "B", 7:26.41
 
SPU Varsity Eight Lineup:  cox–Jacqueline Kemp, stroke-Chloe Remley, 7-Amanda Larsen, 6-Natalie Beall, 5-Kaitlin Dickinson, 4-Briana Inman, 3-Abby Kopack, 2-Emily Monday, bow-Anna Claunch.