March 28, 2009
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – Seattle Pacific crews won both women’s varsity four-oared races Saturday at the annual Daffodil Cup regatta on the American River. The varsity and second varsity four boats each won their events for the second straight weekend.
The Falcons rowers overcame freezing temperatures, including snow mixed with rain during the morning races. Another obstacle for the SPU women’s varsity four came in the form of a collision with the Williamette crew, necessitating a re-start.
The SPU women returned to the starting line unfazed and streaked down the 2,000-meter course for an open-water triumph. The Falcons finished in 7-minutes, 57.2-seconds followed by Willamette with a second-place time of 8:04.8. Pacific Lutheran placed third (8:05.5), Lewis & Clark was fourth (8:08.9), Puget Sound fifth (8:19.5) and Seattle Univesity sixth (9:00.7).
“We had big wins in both women's fours,” SPU coach Keith Jefferson said. “The varsity four got run into by Willamette and the whole race had to be called back and restarted. They were totally frozen when they got back with the win.
“The women’s jayvee four won by several lengths.”
A headwind that persisted throughout the race card waned by the last race of the day, the women’s second varsity (JV) four. The SPU women won the race in convincing fashion over an abbreviated distance.
The Falcons’ winning effort of 6:01.9 was over 12 seconds faster than Pacific Lutheran’s runner-up time of 6:14.4.
The women’s varsity eight event featured a hard-fought battle down the entire length of the course. Defending NCAA Division II national champion Western Washington came out ahead, crossing the finish line two seats ahead of Puget Sound with a time of 7:29.1. The Loggers finished in 7:30.9, followed by Willamette in 7:32.6 and SPU in fourth at 7:34.4. Lewis & Clark was fifth in 7:58.9 and PLU placed sixth in 8:09.9.
The teams finished in the same order as their lane assignments.
“The women’s varsity eight was a terrific race and almost seemed seeded as the results were by lane and quite close,” said Jefferson. “There was no open water between any crews in the last 250. It was really fun.”
The Falcons were runners-up in the men’s novice four race. SPU’s first-year boat challenged Puget Sound throughout the race before finding itself just one seat back at the finish. UPS finished in 7:46.4 and the Falcons clocked a time of 7:47.2. Willamette was third in 8:35.6 and Washington State finished fourth in 8:43.8.
“The men’s novice four had a terrific row even without Travis Drake. They almost beat UPS, but got second by a seat,” Jefferson said “That was simply an outstanding job given that (Stephan) Petrylka was still half sick and hasn't done almost any training in a month and a half.”
SPU was the sixth crew across the finish line in the men’s varsity four race that was won by WSU. The Cougars’ winning time was 7:08.2 and UPS was second in 7:17.1. Western Washington placed third in 7:27.5, followed by Lewis & Clark (7:28.3), Willamette (7:40.9), SPU (7:55.5) and Seattle University (8:06.4).
Jefferson was pleased with the overall performance of his Seattle Pacific crews at the Daffodil Cup.
“The troops were very motivated and recognized this as a terrific point of training. There was just enough good stuff to affirm that they’re on track, but demonstrating room for improvement as well. Our crews were able to see where they stack up with some really good crews and our conference rivals.”
The SPU crews travel even farther south next weekend to compete at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Invitational. That regatta takes place, Saturday, April 4 on Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Wash.
Daffodil Cup Regatta
Saturday, March 28, 2009
American Lake/Lakewood, Wash.
(2,000 meters)
Women’s Varsity Eight
1, Western Washington 7:29.1
2, Puget Sound 7:30.9
3, Willamette 7:32.6
4, Seattle Pacific 7:34.4
5, Lewis & Clark 7:58.9
6, Pacific Lutheran 8:09.9
SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, stroke-Rachel Savage, 7-Emily Pitts, 6-Eleni Johnsen, 5- Katie Degner, 4-Katy Stine, 3-Katja Ibsen, 2-Kristin Lorenzen, bow-Holly Allan.
Women’s Varsity Four
1, Seattle Pacific 7:57.2
2, Willamette 8:04.8
3, Pacific Lutheran 8:05.5
4, Lewis & Clark 8:08.9
5, Puget Sound 8:19.5
6, Seattle University 9:00.7
SPU lineup: cox-Annie Mulder, Rachel Savage, 3-Emily Pitts, 2-Eleni Johnsen, bow-Kim Leinstock.
Women’s Second Varsity Four
1, Seattle Pacific 6:01.9
2, Pacific Lutheran 6:14.4
3, Puget Sound 6:26.5
4, Portland 6:27.9
5, Willamette 6:28.5
6, Lewis & Clark 6:38.7
SPU lineup: cox-Lara Rediger, stroke-Katy Stine, 3-Katja Ibsen, 2-Kristin Lorenzen, bow-Kim Leinstock.
Men’s Varsity Four
1, Washington State 7:08.2
2, Puget Sound 7:17.1
3, Western Washington 7:27.5
4, Lewis & Clark 7:28.3
5, Willamette 7:40.9
6, Seattle Pacific 7:55.5
7, Seattle University 8:06.4
SPU lineup: cox-Matt Shi, stroke-Zeke Schellberg, 3-Carter Swanson, 2-David Peterson, bow-Will Kolb.
Men’s Novice Four
1, Puget Sound 7:46.4
2, Seattle Pacific 7:47.2
3, Willamette 8:35.6
4, Washington State 8:43.8
SPU lineup: cox-Lara Rediger, stroke-David Peterson, 3-Carter Swanson, 2-Stephan Petrylka, bow- Will Kolb.