SAN DIEGO, Calif. The Kansas State rowers recorded a solid finish on the first day of the San Diego Crew Classic at Crown Point Shores Park to advance to the final of one cup on Sunday. The Wildcat’s First Varsity 8+ boat placed second in the second heat of the Women’s Cal Cup to qualify for Sunday’s Grand Final for the Sam Adams/Mesa Distributing Cup.

“I was very pleased with our length and technique today,” head coach Pat Sweeney said. “We raced a good, solid and clean race. It is great to have them perform well on race day. The Grand Final will be a very tight and competitive race. We need to come out with a bit more fire and aggressive attack tomorrow.”

The Wildcats pulled out the necessary second-place heat finish to earn a position in the Grand Final. K-State defeated third-place Temple by less than three seconds and also finished ahead of Heat B competitors Lehigh, Villanova, St. Joseph’s and Arizona State. The Grand Final will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and pit K-State against UC-Davis, Sacramento State, San Diego, San Diego State and SUNY Buffalo.

In the Women’s Collegiate JV competition, the Wildcats placed fifth in Heat A and missed qualifying for the Grand Final of the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy. The Second Varsity 8+ will have a final run in the San Diego Crew Classic as the boat will compete in the Petite Final scheduled for 8 a.m. on Sunday.

“Our 2V also put together a good race today,” Sweeney said. “They were in a very fast and competitive heat and really hung in there. The Petite Final for our 2V will also be a tough race, but one we can be at the front of.”

Live results for Sunday as well as complete results from Saturday’s regatta can be found at the official San Diego Crew Classic website, www.crewclassic.org. A complete recap of Sunday’s K-State results will be available at www.kstatesports.com.

San Diego Crew Classic Results

Women’s Cal Cup

Heat B: 1. San Diego State 6:46.01, 2. Kansas State 6:51.26, 3. Temple 6:53.73, 4. Lehigh 6:57.77, 5. Villanova 6:59.38, 6. St. Joseph’s 7:04.41, 7. Arizona State 7:20.17

Women’s Collegiate JV

Heat A: 1. USC 6:40.40, 2. Washington State 6:43.18, 3. Clemson 6:47.95, 4. Louisville 6:50.96, 5. Kansas State 6:52.03, 6. San Diego 7:01.76, 7. Sacramento State 7:04.75

San Diego Crew Classic Schedule

8 a.m.: Women’s Collegiate JV Petite Final: (in lane assignment order) St. Joseph’s, Louisville, Purdue, Kansas State, San Diego State, San Diego

10:30 a.m.: Women’s Cal Cup Grand Final (Sam Adams/Mesa Distributing Cup): (in lane assignment order) San Diego State, UC-Davis, Sacramento State, Kansas State, San Diego, SUNY Buffalo