MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State rowing team faced some of the strongest teams in the nation on Saturday at the San Diego Crew Classic. The Wildcats Competed in three events on Saturday and battled well in all at Fiesta Bay-Crown Point Shores.

In the Women’s Collegiate Varsity Cal Cup, the Wildcats’ first varsity won their heat in a time of 7:02.6 despite a slow start. K-State was in last place coming out of the blocks, but proceeded to row through all six of their opponents, besting second-place finisher San Diego by two seconds.

K-State followed that performance with third-place finish in its heat of the Women’s Collegiate Novice Laurel V. Korholz Perpetual Trophy race. Although this was not a bad result for the young Wildcat crew, they learned a hard lesson, going to the Petite Final with their third-place finish.

In its evening race, the same crew stepped it up a notch. The Wildcats battled dirty water for the first 250 meters of the race, but the 1000 meter mark found them back up near the front of the pack, fighting for third and second place. They hung on for the third 500 and picked up the pace, producing a stellar fight to the finish and claiming second place less than two seconds behind UC Davis and triumphing over San Diego State University by slightly more.

The second varsity Wildcat boat also concluded racing at the Crew Classic in an afternoon final, but the first varsity will rise to the challenge of the Grand Final of the Cal Cup at 10:20 a.m. Pacific on Sunday. Live footage of all races Sunday will be available at http://crewclassic.org/video/.

Saturday Results

Race # 5: Womens Collegiate Varsity Cal Cup B SeaWorld Cal Cup 1. KSU, 7:02.6; 2. USD, 7:04.68; 3. SDSU, 7:11.59; 4. Loyola, 7:23.69; 5. Cal LW, 7:31.37; 6. Santa Clara, 7:35.60.

Race # 14: Womens Collegiate JV A Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy 1. USC, 6:59.10; 2. Michigan, 7:01.71; 3. Miami, 7:16.92; 4. Sac State, 7:18.69; 5. KSU, 7:37.43.

Race # 19: Womens Collegiate Novice A Laurel V. Korholz Perpetual Trophy 1. OSU, 7:13.32; 2. USC, 7:31.39; 3. KSU, 7:36.29; 4. UCSB, 7:49.32; 5. UCI, 8:07.48; 6. Miami, 8:16.36; 7. Sonoma, 8:45.13.

Race # 45: Womens Collegiate JV 3RD

1. USD, 7:12.20; 2. Loyola, 7:18.50; 3. KSU, 7:24.99; 4. St. Mary's, 7:25.75.

Race # 56: Womens Collegiate Novice  Petite 1. UCD, 7:14.70; 2. KSU, 7:16.25; 3. SDSU, 7:18.29; 4. Sac State, 7:20.39; 5. Minnesota, 7:20.92; 6. UCSB, 7:31.68.