THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1999

Crew teams improve over two weekends

By Sara Barton

On-Line Forty-Niner

Despite a four hour break to assist poor tide conditions at the Miller Cup Regatta in Marina del Rey, the Long Beach State women's crew team still struggled.

The annual women's race last Saturday was not as fruitful as the previous weekend's showing at the California Collegiate Rowing Championships.

At the Miller Cup Regatta, the women's varsity four-person boat began the start of the race. But with only 500 meters down, or one-quarter of the race, one of the rowers oars broke at the collar. Still, the varsity four continued the race and with only three rowers finished in second place. This qualified the team for petite finals where the 49ers finished second again, but with all four rowers. UC Santa Barbara placed first.

The women's novice eight-person boat also placed second in its first heat which placed the team into petite finals. At petites, the 49ers rowed away with third place.

The Long Beach State crew teams won state rankings in some of the races at the California Collegiate Rowing Championships on April 17.

Competition was tough as schools poured in with funded programs and teams. But it did not keep CSULB from rising to the challenge.

The men's varsity four won their heat placing the team into finals. The team kept its strength to drive the boat in at second place in the state with a time of 6:50.2. The gold was captured by UC Berkeley with a time of 6:47.6.

The men's novice eight-person 'A' boat managed to make it to finals. In the finals, the team rowed its way to fifth place in state with a time of 6:36.1. UC Davis won first place with a time of 6:17.2.

The women's varsity lightweight four-person boat rowed away with the bronze medal with a time of 8:41.5. The gold went to San Diego State University with a time of 8:18.8.

The men's varsity lightweight four-person boat placed fourth in the state with a time of 7:21.2. California Maritime Academy snatched first with a time of 7:12.1.

The next crew event is the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships May 15th and 16th in Sacramento.