April 6, 2002

San Diego, Calif. - Kansas State's varsity eight won its heat Saturday in the Cal Cup division at the San Diego Crew Classic being held at Misison Bay.

The Wildcats covered the 2,000-meter course in exactly 7 minues to defeat Gonzaga and Villanova among the seven-boat heat. By virtue of its finish among the top two in the heat, K-State advances to Sunday's Grand Final for the Cal Cup, one of two historic trophies available for collegiate women's teams at the San Diego regatta. Many nationally ranked teams are competing this weekend for the Jessop-Whittier Cup.

K-State led throughout the race, gaining nearly a full-second lead in the first 500 meters. The Wildcats' largest lead at a split was 4.5 seconds at the halfway point. The 'Cats won the heat over Gonzaga by 3.4 seconds.

"We had a good race in the first varsity," said Wildcat head coach Jenny Hale. "We stopped striding out late in the race and being really aggressive. But the varsity didn't feel like they had to extend themselves, so I think they have something left for tomorrow."

K-State, which received votes in the Division I poll this week for the first time in school history, will race for the Cal Cup against 17th-ranked Duke, Minnesota, Massachusetts, SMU and Gonzaga on Sunday.

Kansas State's second varsity eight finished third in its six-boat heat in the Women's JV Division. The Wildcats went 7:19.60 to finish behind nationally ranked 2V8 boats Virginia (6:54.80) and Ohio State (6:58.60). K-State will row in the Women's JV Petite Final on Sunday morning against boats that finished either third or fourth from the three heats on Saturday.

The Wildcats' second varsity was fourth after the first two 500-meter splits, but made up ground on Sacramento State to move into third place in the third 500. K-State held off a late charge by North Carolina to remain in third.

"The second varsity was in a tough heat," said Hale. "We were racing against the third and fifth 2V boats in the country, so our goal was just to race up to our potential. I think we're getting better at that, but the 2V has to learn to dig a little deeper and fight harder for fast times."

Following Sunday's races, K-State will take a week off before going to Boston for a regatta hosted by Northeastern.

SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC
SATURDAY'S RESULTS

WOMEN'S CAL CUP (1V8)
Heat C - 1. Kansas State, 7:00.00, 2. Gonzaga, 7:03.23, 3. Villanova 7:06.33, 4. North Carolina, 7:11.63, 5. Temple, 7:12.29, 6. Orange Coast, 7:24.53, 7. Saint Mary's, 7:57.00. K-State and Gonzaga advance to Sunday's Grand Final.
K-State Lineup - Cox: Brandy Sherwood, Stroke: Samantha Allen, 7: Josie McClellan, 6: Glenna Yokum, 5: Lara Schrock, 4: Courtney Franssen, 3: Carissa Land, 2: Katy Bockelman, Bow: Alyssa Adams.

WOMEN'S JV DIVISION (2V8)
Heat A - 1. Virginia, 6:54.80, 2. Ohio State, 6:58.60, 3. Kansas State, 7:19.60, 4. North Carolina, 7:20.95, 5. Sacramento State, 7:23.20, 6. San Diego, 7:43.99. K-State and North Carolina advance to Sunday's JV Division Petite Final.
K-State Lineup - Cox: Elane Walker, Stroke: Talara Wait, 7: Lori Holcomb, 6: Katie Baxter, 5: Amy Herrmann, 4: Lindsey Hahn, 3: Ingrid Shawiko, 2: Marja-Lisa Paulson, Bow: Amiee Finkbeiner.

SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE (Live updates are available at www.crewclassic.org)
12:20 p.m. CDT - Women's JV Petite Final - K-STATE, North Carolina, Oregon State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Stanford.
4:20 p.m. - Women's Cal Cup Grand Final - K-STATE, Gonzaga, Duke, Minnesota, Massachusetts, SMU.

--ksu--