Willamette Women's Varsity 8 Wins at Governor's Cup

In the varsity women's 4+, Willamette was second at 8:06.7, behind Seattle Pacific's time of 7:55.0.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - The Willamette University women's varsity 8+ won the prestige event in the women's division of the 2007 Governor's Cup Regatta on Saturday, as the Bearcats finished 15.3 seconds in front of Seatle Pacific University and more than one-half minute ahead of Lewis & Clark College, in competition on the Willamette River in downtown Salem, Ore.

Willamette's WV8+ time of 6:29.90 easily placed the 'Cats at the top of the list. Seattle Pacific clocked in at 6:45.2 and Lewis & Clark was timed at 7:01.1 over the 2,000-meter course.

"The WV8 crew was really please with their performance," Head Coach Susan Parkman said. "They were able to lock it into a solid rate ... and had a quality sprint."

The top performance by the Willamette men's rowing team came from the junior varsity 4+, which took second place just 0.8 seconds behind Lewis & Clark.

The Pioneers claimed the razor-thin victory in 7:01.1, while WU reached the finish line in 7:07.9. Seattle Pacific was third at 7:13.6.

WU's talented novice women's 8+ took second behind Seattle Pacific. SPU, which competes in NCAA Division II, finished in front of the Bearcats, who compete in NCAA Division III.

In the varsity women's 4+, Willamette was second at 8:06.7, behind Seattle Pacific's time of 7:55.0. Lewis & Clark was third at 8:35.7.

The day's races, which were visible from Riverfront Park in Salem, began with a headwind and some rain, but finished with good weather for the final four races.

The best weather was present for the men's and women's varsity eight races.

Willamette competes again next weekend, on Saturday, April 14th, at the Covered Bridge Regatta in Eugene, Ore.

Races are slated to get underway at 7:00 AM (PDT).

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