March 21, 2009
SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific crews swept all five races by decisive margins Saturday morning at the annual season-opening dual regatta against Pacific Lutheran on the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
“Overall, it was a really strong showing,” said Keith Jefferson, who starts his 19th season as head coach of the Falcons men’s and women’s crews. “There was good stuff in the women’s races. Our girls executed and did really well, as expected.”
The SPU women’s varsity four registered an impressive time of 7-minutes, 53.00-seconds in its initial outing. That was faster than any time turned in last season by the Falcons top four. SPU finished under the eight-minute mark just one last season in four-oared events.
The PLU women’s varsity four did not finish due to equipment breakage.
The Falcons second varsity four was fast as well, covering the 2,000-meter course in 8:11.02. The Lutes finished second in 8:57.84.
“In the women’s fours, anything below 8:20 is fast for a Division II crew. The varsity was really good at 7:53 and the jayvee four’s time was 8:11,” Jefferson explained. “Those times at this point in the season put them ahead of most Division II boats out there.”
Many rowers from the SPU fours came back and rowed again in the final race, the varsity eight event. The Falcons broke ahead early and went wire-to-wire for a 32-second victory. SPU clocked a time of 7:24.52 followed by the Lutes in 7:57.08.
“The varsity eight wasn’t really pushed and it was the second race for a lot of them, so the time was particularly fast. But they looked stable and were rowing well together.”
SPU won both men’s races, including an open-water triumph in the varsity four competition. The Falcons finished in 7:20.03 and PLU was three boat lengths back at 7:31.99. That was the closest margin of the day.
The SPU men’s novice four was successful in its maiden voyage. The Falcons winning time was 7:44.97 and the Lutes finished in 8:10.54.
“The biggest relief for us was how well we rowed, particularly on the men’s side,” said Jefferson. “After the men’s race I asked them why they don’t row like that in practice. Even they couldn’t believe how well they rowed together.
“For our novice men, their time wasn’t blazing fast, but from a technical perspective we were really good. It was very encouraging.”
The Seattle Pacific crews hit the water again next Saturday, March 28 in the Daffodil Cup on American Lake in Lakewood, Wash. That regatta features numerous collegiate crews from throughout the Northwest, including SPU and PLU. Joining them will be Puget Sound, Western Washington and Washington State along with many others.
Seattle Pacific-Pacific Lutheran Dual
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Lake Washington Ship Canal/Seattle, Wash.
(all races were 2,000 meters)
Women’s Varsity Eight
1, SPU 7:24.52. 2, PLU 7:57.08.
SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, stroke-Rachel Savage, 7-Katie Degner, 6-Eleni Johnsen, 5-Emily Pitts, 4-Katy Stine, 3-Katja Ibsen, 2-Kristin Lorenzen, bow-Holly Allan.
Women’s Varsity Four
1, SPU 7:53.00. PLU did not finish (breakage)
SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, Rachel Savage, 3-Emily Pitts, 2-Eleni Johnsen, bow-Kim Leinstock.
Women’s Second Varsity Four
1, SPU 8:11.02. 2, PLU 8:57.84.
SPU lineup: cox-Lara Rediger, stroke-Katy Stine, 3-Katja Ibsen, 2-Kristin Lorenzen, bow-Holly Allan.
Men’s Varsity Four
1, SPU 7:20.03. 2, PLU 7:31.99.
SPU lineup: cox-Matt Shi, stroke-Zeke Schellberg, 3-Travis Drake, 2-David Peterson, bow-Carter Swanson.
Men’s Novice Four
1, SPU 7:44.97. 2, PLU 8:10.54
SPU lineup: cox-Lara Rediger, stroke-David Peterson, 3-Travis Drake, 2-Will Kolb, bow-Carter Swanson.