WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento State rowing squad won three of four races against UC Davis Saturday morning at the Port of Sacramento, winning by open water in the varsity eight, varsity four and third varsity four events.
The victory in the varsity eight allowed Sacramento State to claim its 15th Jean Runyon Cup, a prize both schools have battled for annually since 1997. The Hornets now own a 15-4 record against UC Davis over that span. The Aggies' rowing squad had been a varsity sport until 2010, and is currently its sixth year of club status.
The Hornets and Aggies were racing against the tide today with crosswinds ranging between 10 and 12 miles per hour. In addition, the eights had to deal with rainy conditions.
In the varsity eight, Sacramento State's 2,000-meter winning time of 6:56.5 was over 34 seconds faster than UC Davis' time of 7:30.7. The Hornets' second varsity eight also competed in the V8 race, and their time of 7:15.2 was nearly 15 seconds faster than UC Davis' varsity eight time.
Sacramento State's varsity four, second varsity four and UC Davis' varsity four all competed in the first race of the morning. The Hornets' V4 time of 7:44.5 was 12.4 seconds faster than UC Davis (7:56.9) and Sacramento State's 2V4 time of 7:50.8 was nearly six seconds faster than the Aggies.
The Hornets' third varsity eight time of 7:33.7 was shy of the Aggies (7:29.4). Sacramento State was trailing by a seat with about 10 strokes remaining, but caught a crab allowing UC Davis to win by over four seconds.
In the third varsity four race, Sacramento State's time of 8:04.1 was over 18 seconds faster than UC Davis (8:22.9).
Today was the final tuneup for the American Athletic Conference Championships in which Sacramento State will compete on Saturday, May 14 at Lake Natoma.
It will mark the second time the Hornets will compete in the American Athletic Conference Championships and just the third time the program will compete in an NCAA-recognized conference championship regatta since gaining intercollegiate status in 1995. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship regatta.
SACRAMENTO STATE'S LINEUPS
VARSITY EIGHT
cox – Alexa Cantley, s –Jill Modean, 7 – Nika Szyrynski, 6 – Courtney Owen, 5 – Sarah Buchter, 4 – Shannon Rauls, 3 – Carli Preston, 2 - Anne Smolenski, b – Callie Senna
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox – Melissa Pollard, s- Gabrielle Luebben, 7 – Claire Perez, 6 – Migle Griskelyte, 5 – Melissa Kepler, 4 - Elena Galvez, 3 – Jasmine Taylor, 2 – Megan Boggs, b – Erin Kothlow
VARSITY FOUR
cox – Emily Mauer, s – Kayley Rasmussen, 3 – Bailey Greenslit, 2 – Natasha Bazzo, b – Emily Zimmerman
SECOND VARSITY FOUR
cox – Paige Poulin, s – Elizabeth Ditoiu, 3 – Danielle Stout, 2 – Cheyenne Amaro, b - Vjollca Rexhepi
THIRD VARSITY FOUR
cox – Anica Hernandez, s – Raelyn Troche, 3 – Valeria Torres, 2 – Dimari Aldridge, b – Ashley Velasquez
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
Cox - Deyanira Ventura, s - Kennedi Sullivan, 7 - Melinda Anthony, 6 - Kaylin Mallery, 5- Cassandra Macias, 4 - Sierra Robershaw, 3 - Lia Patrinellis, 2 - Chelscie Pacheco, b - Shamon Pollard
