GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- Sacramento State's varsity eight, second varsity and varsity four all won medals on the final day of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championship on Sunday at Lake Natoma.
The Hornets won gold in the varsity eight, silver in the second varsity eight, and bronze in the varsity four. The WIRA gold was the first for the Hornets' top boat since 2010. In addition, the second varsity eight won silver for the third straight year (no WIRAs in 2020 or 2021 because of the pandemic), and medaled at WIRAs for the 15th time in the last 19 years the event has been held. That includes silver medals five times in the last six years.
The varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four were the only entries Sacramento State competed, and each boat finished in the top three of yesterday's heat racing to qualify for today's grand finals.
Under mostly ideal conditions, Sacramento State's varsity eight posted a swift time of 6:41.45 over 2,000 meters to win its six-boat grand final, finishing just ahead of San Diego (6:43.38). UC San Diego placed third with a 6:50.54.
In the second varsity eight grand final, San Diego won with a time of 7:02.31, followed by Sacramento State (7:09.76) and UC San Diego (7:11.83) to round out the top three in the five-boat field.
In the varsity four, Sacramento State's third place time was 8:37.88, trailing both San Diego and UC San Diego.
The Hornets return to the water on Saturday when they travel to the Port of Sacramento to take on UC Davis. That will mark the final regular season regatta as the Hornets will compete on May 15 at the American Athletic Conference Championship in Tennessee.
Results from each Sacramento State race, and lineups, can be found below. Complete results of the event can be accessed in the link above the story.
VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Zoie Kabir, stroke - Jordan Smith, 7 - Sarah Weatherhogge, 6 - Shelby Kolbeck, 5 - Deanna Frack, 4 - Sydnie Bain, 3 - Mikaela Smyth, 2 - Willow Goddard, bow - Natalie Banford
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Margaret Kuzela, stroke - Helena Young, 7 - Alexis MacDonald, 6 - Emma Doddridge, 5 - Maddie Bocker, 4 - Jelena Trivan, 3 - Alaina Godwin, 2 - Jessica Johnson, bow - Kaia Bekey
VARSITY FOUR
cox - Emma Goldsmith, stroke - Bryleigh Nixon, 3 - Malia Guilbert, 2 - Alayzza Boutte, bow - Sarah Bonfield
VARSITY EIGHT GRAND FINAL
1. Sacramento State 6:41.45
2. San Diego 6:43.38
3. UC San Diego 6:50.54
4. Seattle 7:06.37
5. Saint Mary's 7:08.95
6. Santa Clara 7:11.07
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT GRAND FINAL
1. San Diego 7:02.31
2. Sacramento State 7:09.76
3. UC San Diego 7:11.83
4. Seattle 7:38.53
5. Saint Mary's 7:43.10
VARSITY FOUR GRAND FINAL
1. San Diego 7:52.59
2. UC San Diego 8:09.05
3. Sacramento State 8:37.88
4. Seattle 8:44.45
5. Loyola Marymount 9:23.42
