No. 4 Bears Finish Second At Pac-12 Championships
FOLSOM, Calif. – The No. 4 California women's rowing team sat in third place behind Stanford and Washington but still had an opportunity to win the Pac-12 title heading into the final race between the varsity eights at the Pac-12 Championships at Lake Natoma on Sunday afternoon. The V8+ ended up finishing second which gave the Golden Bears enough points (36) to jump into second place in the final standings – their best finish since coming in second at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships.
In the first race of the day between the novice eights, Cal got out with the lead pack and was even with Washington but behind Stanford by a half-boat over the first 500 meters. With the Cardinal building an open-water lead over the field by the halfway mark, it was a battle for second between the Bears and Huskies. Cal was able to take a three-seat lead over Washington in the third 500 meters. The Bears were able to extend their lead by about two seats over the Huskies in the closing 500 meters to take second place in a time of 06:46.750.
In the 3V8+ matchup, Stanford opened a half-boat lead over Cal, Washington and UCLA in the opening first few hundred meters. The Bears and Huskies were even for second place after the first 500 meters and remained neck and neck by the halfway mark. Cal was able to make a move and go ahead by a half boat over the Huskies through the third 500 meters and maintained that lead through the finish to come in second at 06:43.350.
In the V4+ race, Cal got out with the lead pack along with Stanford and Washington in the opening first few hundred meters, however the Huskies and Cardinal separated themselves by the halfway mark. Cal sat in third place with just a bit of open water behind Washington over the third 500 meters and ended in third place with a time of 07:28.760.
In the battle between the 2V8+, Cal sat in third place behind Stanford and Washington after the first few hundred meters. The Bears made up some ground and sat just a few seats behind the Huskies after the first 500 meters, however they fell behind by a bit of open water in the third 500 meters and were unable to make up ground and finished in third with a time of 06:41.110.
In the last race of the day between the V8+, Cal got off to a good start taking a one-seat lead over Stanford and Washington in first position after 10 strokes, but the Cardinal answered back and took a one-seat lead through the first few hundred meters. The Bears maintained contact with Stanford through 500 meters but fell behind by almost a boat length over the third 500 meters. Cal was unable to mount a comeback but was able to finish second in a time of 06:32.020 and overtake Washington for second place overall.
"The team raced well today and for the most part the whole team stepped up from our last race a few weeks ago," Cal head coach Al Acosta said. "The first eight certainly had a much better and more focused effort. Going toe to toe with Stanford and Washington towards the latter part of the season and then at PAC-12s is a great way to prepare for NCAAs. We'll need to continue to step it up next week and get in some good training and then we'll be off to Ohio for NCAAs."
The Bears will now have the next two weeks off to prepare for the NCAA championships at Harsha Lake in Ohio starting May 31.
Final Standings
1. Stanford – 45.5 points
2. California – 36 points
3. Washington – 35.5 points
4. Oregon State - 24 points
5. USC – 17.5 points
6. Washington State – 12.5 points
7. UCLA – 11 points
Results
V8+
1. Stanford - 06:26.550
2. California - 06:32.020
3. Washington - 06:36.090
4. Oregon St - 06:43.880
5. Washington St - 06:46.360
6. USC - 06:48.210
7. UCLA - 06:52.080
2V8+
1. Stanford - 06:28.340
2. Washington - 06:35.720
3. California - 06:41.110
4. Oregon St - 06:49.360
5. UCLA - 06:53.460
6. USC - 06:54.620
7. Washington St. - 07:03.710
V4+
1. Stanford - 07:11.830
2. Washington - 07:24.160
3. California - 07:28.760
4. USC - 07:38.760
5. Oregon St - 07:41.910
6. UCLA - 07:43.320
7. Washington St - 07:57.750
3V8+
1. Stanford - 06:37.540
2. California - 06:43.350
3. Washington - 06:45.110
4. UCLA - 06:58.660
5. USC - 07:04.530
6. Oregon St - 07:09.770
7. Washington St - 07:15.460
4V8+ (EXHIBITION)
1. Stanford - 06:43.020
2. California - 06:46.750
3. Washington B - 06:47.370
4. Washington A - 06:55.240
5. UCLA - 07:05.940
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain: Piper Melnick
Stroke: Minou Bouman
7: Lotta van Westreenen
6: Julia Hunt-Davis
5: Antonia Galland
4: Star Rose Miller
3: Ella Wheeler
2: Fien van Westreenen
Bow: Amy Furlonger
2V8+
Coxswain: Lily Wieland
Stroke: Giulia Bosio
7: Sammie Henriksen
6: Tabo Stekelenburg
5: Ella Berger
4: Julia Irmler
3: Lola Crampin
2: Izzy Campbell
Bow: Sophie Ward
V4+
Coxswain: Charley Griffiths
4: Megan Culbert
3: Miya Meskis
2: Katie McDermott
1: Ella Lewerenz
3V8+
Coxswain: Emily Nowak
Stroke: Lily Pember
7: Zoe McKernan
6: Francesca Hammerer
5: Lily Rausser
4: Nicole Weber
3: Gwyneth Fagg
2: Angela Szabo
1: Eve Barrancotto
4V8+
Coxswain: Julia Fullington
Stroke: Claire Banks
7: Filippa Ljunggren
6: Tyra Hjemdal
5: Molly Gold
4: Sophie Fussell
3: Kate Nixon
2: Charlotte Hill
1: Sydney Koutrouba
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's rowing, follow the Bears on Instagram (@calwrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).