Seattle University women’s rowing improved upon last year’s finishes at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA’s) championships, as both SU boats advanced to the Grand Finals and the Novice 8+ medaled, finishing second.
"We had a really great weekend of racing," said head coach Jenny Park. "I'm thrilled with the novice 8+ results. This is our first big medal as a varsity squad. The Varsity 8+ was a tough event, close times across the board. Our ladies were right in it, so proud of the whole team today!"
In their first races on the weekend, the varsity 8+ finished third in their respective heat and the novice 8+ won their heat, as both teams advanced to the Grand Finals.
The novice 8+, ranked No. 2 coming into the weekend, earned a medal, placing second in the WN8+ Grand Finals with a time of 7:06.85, defeating UC Santa Barbara, Sacramento State, Oregon, and UC San Diego. The varsity 8+, also advancing to their respective Grand Finals, placed fifth, advancing to their second straight WIRA Grand Finals.
Next weekend, on May 3, the women’s rowing squad will finish the 2014 season, their second as a varsity program, at the Opening Day Regatta on the Montlake Cut in Seattle.
Varsity Eight Lineups: cox – Jolie Kawasaki, stroke – Kelsey Hopkins, 7 – Darian Borst, 6 – Fallon Sullivan, 5 – Mariana Osuna, 4 – Kaitlyn Hammond, 3 – Sara Haugen, 2 – Sinclair Ball, bow – Hana Wilder
Novice Eight Lineups: cox – Liesl Bower-Jernigan, stroke – Kailyn Zimmer, 7 – Meghan Ricci, 6 – Katy Chiswell, 5 – Rachel Wong, 4 – Jill Nakaso, 3 – MacKenzie Gaddy, 2 – Maddi Lynch, bow – Selyna Villareal
WV8+ D1/Open Heat Results: Saint Mary’s – 6:52.90, Sacramento State – 6:56.50, Seattle U – 7:01.10, San Diego State – 7:08.90
WV8+ D1/Open Grand Results: Stanford – 6:53.00, Sacramento State – 6:57.27, Saint Mary’s – 6:59.50, Portland – 7:01.70, Seattle U – 7:02.14, Loyola Marymount – 7:08.07
WN8+ Heat Results: Seattle U – 7:17.00, UC Santa Barbara – 7:23.60, Sacramento State – 7:30.50, Orange Coast College – 7:42.60, Sonoma State – 8:10.50
WN8+ Grand Results: Gonzaga – 7:00.30, Seattle U – 7:06.85, UC Santa Barbara – 7:16.11, Sacramento State – 7:20.65, Oregon – 7:32.07, UC San Diego – 7:39.10