The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Spectators watch on as Oregon State's Varsity 8+ holds off Washington State in Saturday's final race at Dexter Lake.

Oregon State women's rowing team had an impressive showing on Saturday, May 2, on its home waters of Dexter Lake. The sky stayed clear long enough for the Beavers to row to three wins out of four. A large crowd stood around, patiently awaiting each race on the docks of the marina at 9 a.m.

Races got off schedule, but that didn't keep the Beavers from taking the big win. OSU's Varsity 8+ boat gave the crowd the most nail-biting race of the day with a win over Washington State by less than three seconds.

Supporters watched through their binoculars on the dock, talking to each other about how both teams were dead even as OSU and Washington battled back and forth for the lead in the first 1,000 meters. In the final stretch to the finish, OSU pulled ahead to seal the win over the Huskies. Oregon State has been successful in both matchups against Washington State this year.

"It was a great race," head coach Emily Ford said of the Varsity 8+ race. "They were a little bit down at the start but they inched a little bit until they pushed ahead and went with it."

Oregon State's Novice 8+ boat competed hard to beat out both of Washington State's novice boats. The Novice 8+ boat started off with a good lead, eventually putting a whole boat length in between them and the competition.

OSU raced three Varsity 4+ boats against two WSU 4+ boats at 9:30 a.m. OSU's 4+ "A" boat had a large lead over the other four boats and took an easy win. OSU's 4+ "B" boat was stuck battling in between both of WSU's boats most of the race but they pushed ahead in the last 500 meters to take a second-place finish. OSU took a first-, second- and fifth-place finish in the race.

Oregon State's Second Varsity 8+ boat lost to Washington State in the third race of the day. Washington State got a good jump on OSU early on, and the Beavers were unable to close the gap.

Ford was pleased with the results of Saturday's races.

"The day overall was very good," she said.

Celia Magistrale, Oregon State's Varsity 8+ boat coxswain, was excited with how the overall regatta turned out.

"We are feeling pretty good about today," she said. "We executed the way needed to."

Next up for the Beaver women's rowing will be the Pac-10 championships held in California on Lake Natoma May 16 and 17. The Beavers will have two weeks to prepare for and focus on the upcoming weekend. To be able to compete at the national championship, they must finish as one of top three teams.



Makenzie Marineau, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com

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