Bulldogs Gain Valuable Experience At San Diego Crew Classic
4/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - On the final day of the San Diego Crew Classic, the Gonzaga University men's rowing Varsity 8+ captured a second place finish in the Petite Final to grab seventh place overall. Closing out rowing for the Bulldogs on Mission Bay in San Diego, Calif., were the Open 8+ with a sixth place Grand Final finish and the Second Varsity 8+ with a seventh place Grand Final finish.
The Bulldog Varsity 8+ put together an impressive race to claim second in the Petite Final. The Zags asserted themselves in the third 500-meters of the 2,000-meter race, working their way through UC Santa Barbara and went on to push off a late move by the Gauchos in the final 500 to secure that second place victory.
"The Varsity 8+ had a very complete race and ironed several things out from the day before," explained Gonzaga head coach Dan Gehn of his marquee boat. "They finished 2.8 down to a very strong Michigan team that hasn't been on the water much this spring."
Michigan won the event in 6:11.95, followed by Gonzaga crossing the finish line in 6:14.75. UC Santa Barbara closed out the top three at 6:17.13.
The University of California won the Grand Final of the Varsity 8+ in 5:49.68.
Gonzaga's Second Varsity 8+ - who took fourth in its heat race Saturday - claimed seventh place in the Grand Final Sunday with a time of 6:29.56. The University of California A boat won the race in 6:01.22, followed by Northeastern at 6:08.95.
Rounding out the day was the Bulldogs Third Varsity 8+ participating in the Open 8+ Grand Final. They took sixth in 6:53.49. California also won the Open 8+ final in 6:11.61.
"I thought both the Second Varsity 8+ and Third Varsity 8+ (Open 8+) rowed well in some tough conditions in lane eight," explained Gehn.
Gonzaga next regatta is set for Saturday, April 12 when it faces Oregon State in a dual in Vancouver, Wash.
San Diego Crew Classic - Final Results
April 6, 2014 - Mission Bay - San Diego, Calif.
Men's Collegiate Invitational Varsity 8+ Petite Final
1. Michigan, 6:11.95
2. Gonzaga, 6:14.75
3. UC Santa Barbara, 6:17.13
4. UC San Diego, 6:20.85
5. Trinity CT, 6:22.42
Men's Collegiate Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final (Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy)
1. California A, 6:01.22
2. Northeastern, 6:08.95
3. California B, 6:19.21
4. British Columbia, 6:22.35
5. San Diego, 6:23.43
6. Stanford, 6:26.29
7. Gonzaga, 6:29.56
8. Orange Coast, 6:32.94
Men's Open 8+ Grand Final (Joan Ward Memorial Cup)
1. California RC, 6:11.61
2. California, 6:16.10
3. River City, 6:29.04
4. Stanford, 6:31.06
5. Union BC, 6:34.25
6. Gonzaga, 6:53.49
7. Wichita State, 6:55.93
8. Chapman, 7:13.63
