MANHATTAN, Kan.- Kansas State heads west this weekend to race in the San Diego Crew Classic on Mission Bay Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6.

The weekend of racing begins Saturday morning for the `Cats, as the first varsity eight competes for the Jessop-Whittier Cup in Heat A at 10:20 a.m.

The second varsity eight races in the women's JV competition. K-State will race in the second of three heats starting at 12:20 p.m.

Depending on the outcomes of the initial heat races, the second varsity eight will compete Saturday at 5:30 p.m., or Sunday at 12:20 p.m. or 3:10 p.m.

The varsity eight will compete again on Sunday, in either the petite final at 1:40 p.m., or the grand final at 4:40 p.m.

San Diego Crew Classic Schedule

Jessop Whittier Cup (1V8)

10:20 a.m. Heat A: Washington, California, Washington State, Texas, Duke, Kansas State, San Diego.

10:30 a.m. Heat B: Stanford, USC, OSU, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Clemson.

12:10 p.m. Heat A: Stanford, Washington, USD, Massachusetts, UCLA, Clemson, Humboldt.

12:20 p.m. Heat B: Minnesota, USC, Kansas State, Santa Clara, SMU, Loyola, Sacramento State.

12:30 p.m. Heat C: Washington State, San Diego State, Texas, California, OSU, Duke, UC-Irvine.

(Depending on heat results)

5:30 p.m. Women's JV-third final

Sunday, April 6, 2003

12:20 p.m. Women's JV-petite final

1:40 p.m. Jessop-Whittier Cup-petite final

3:10 p.m. Women's JV-grand final

4:40 p.m. Jessop-Whittier Cup-grand final

Where do I sit?

Kansas State will rig only two boats to race in the crew classic this weekend with the following line ups:

First Varsity Eights: Cox: Brandy Sherwood; Stroke: Talara Wait; 7: Lori Holcomb; 6: Lara Schrock; 5: Susie Truax; 4: Alyssa Adams; 3: Courtney Franssen; 2: Carissa Land; Bow: Katie Bockelman.

Second Varsity Eights: Cox: Elane Walker; Stroke: Amy Herrmann; 7: Linzi Hauldren; 6: Angela Murray; 5: Amiee Finkbeiner; 4: Renee Ecklund; 3: Jessica Carmer; 2: Katie Baxter; Bow: Jamie Holt.

Stepping Up in the World

This year marks the third straight trip for the Wildcats to the San Diego event. The past two years, K-State has finished well in the the Cal Cup division, but this year they step up to row for the Jessop-Whittier Cup against the likes of defending champs Washington, Stanford and Cal-Berkeley.

In all, in the division, K-State will face seven current USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll Top-20 teams. In addition, the rest of the field contains five other teams that recieved votes in the poll released on April 2, 2003, not counting the Wildcats, which recieved one vote. The only team in the field which did not at least receive votes in the poll was San Diego State.

One Year Ago

In the 2002 San Diego Crew Classic, the Wildcats competed in the Cal Cup division, finishing in fourth place for the second straight year posting a 6:52.65.

The second varsity eight also got into the action last season, finishing fourth in the petite final of the women's JV division with a time of 7:11.20

Rowing in a triagular with Iowa and Clemson on Saturday, March 29, the Wildcats finished third in action at home on Tuttle Creek Lake. Iowa won the three varsity races, with Clemson grabbing the only novice race of the day.

Race Results

Kansas State race results will be available at: www.k-statesports.com

Complete San Diego Crew Classic results can be found at the regatta website: www.crewclassic.org