May 4, 2003
LAKE NATOMA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men and women's crew had a successful first day of competition at the two-day Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Saturday at Lake Natoma near Sacramento, Calif.
The Broncos competed in seven events, four for the women and three for the men. The women's novice four and women's varsity four each raced in their respective heats and finished in times of 8:55.3 and 8:02.9, respectively. Both qualified for the third final races that were held later in the day.
In the third final of the women's novice four race the Broncos finished in a time of 9:46.8, good enough for fourth place. In the third final of the women's varsity four Santa Clara finished third in a time of 8:31.4.
Both the women's varsity eight and second varsity eight had good races in their respective heats, crossing the finish line in times of 7:20.2 and 7:34.8. Both boats qualified for the petite final that will be raced on Sunday.
On the men's side the men's varsity four finished its heat in a time of 7:07.2 and qualified for the petite final that was held late Saturday afternoon. In that race the Broncos finished second with a time of 7:33.0, just over seven seconds behind Willamette.
The men's novice four finished their race in a time of 7:03.4, just half a second behind UC Davis who won the heat. The time was good enough to qualify the Broncos for a spot in the grand final on Sunday.
Santa Clara's men's varsity eight posted one of its best times of the year with a 6:06.8 mark which was good enough for second in their heat and moved them on to the grand final on Sunday. The Broncos crossed the line just over four seconds behind heat winner Gonzaga.
Following Sunday's races the Bronco men and women will return to action next weekend at the largest collegiate regatta in the nation, competing at the Dad Vail Regatta held in Philadelphia, Pa.
