GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Seattle Pacific University women's rowing team competed in the opening round of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Saturday, with the Falcons sending three boats to Sunday's grand final.
"All three varsity boats came into today with process goals they wanted to achieve in hopes of making the grand finals," head coach Caitlin McClain said. "They did an excellent job managing their adrenaline and executing their race plans."
The V8+ pulled to the starting line at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday. The Falcons battled Western Washington down the 2,000-meter course for the top spot in their heat. The Falcons fell just short of the Vikings heat-winning time of 6:48.0. SPU clocked a 6:59.12 to finish second and advance to Sunday's grand final.
The V4+ boat lined up for heat three at 10:50 a.m. Once again, the Falcons were lined up against the Vikings. The two teams battled for the top spots, with the Vikings winning the heat with a 7:47.83. SPU hurried down the course and took second with a time of 7:53.48.
"The V8+ and V4+ both raced new combos for the first time and were able to post their fastest times of the season," McClain said.
SPU's second V8+ boat advanced to the grand final as well. The Falcons took fourth with a time of 7:47.72. The top time in the heat was 7:23.19 from CUI.
"This was the first race for the 2V8+ all season so today's heat was important for setting a foundation to build off for tomorrow's final," McClain said. "They had a solid start and will work on more consistency and unity in the middle of the race."
The finals of the WIRA Championships take place on Sunday morning in Gold River, Calif. on Lake Natoma at the Nimbus Flat State Park.
LINEUPS
VARSITY 8+
c: Aleksia Haugen, 8: Amelia Pape, 7: Emma Jones, 6: Audrey Rekedal, 5: Solanes Capps-Mace, 4: Bella Lisenby, 3: Grace Combs, 2: Gem Gatmaytan, 1: Addie Clark
Varsity 4+
c: Lexi Roybal, 4: Megan Rouse, 3: Emma Ely, 2: Emmerson Spencer, 1: Brittan Dalberg
JV8+
c: Mary Goodhew, 8: Racquel Wesley, 7: Mia Vittori, 6: Jadyn Hawley, 5: Jasmine Crisan, 4: Rachael Termure, 3: Freya Myers-Arnoult, 2: Elizabeth Chapman, 1: Faith Akutagawa
Novice 4+
c: Sasha Kolobovnikov, 4: Rachael Termure, 3: Jasmine Crisan, 2: Erica Fisher, 1: Karisma Magana
SPU SOCIAL
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