WORCESTER, Mass. (May 14) --A day after picking up its first silver medal at a national rowing meet, Seattle Pacific University claimed the school's first championship in the women's varsity grand final at the Champion International Collegiate Regatta on Lake Quinsigamond Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons, who had been runner-up to Bucknell in the morning qualifying heat, parlayed a quick start and a solid finish into an easy, open-water victory on Mother's Day. SPU rowed the 2000-meter course in 7 minutes, 36.07 seconds--seven seconds in front of Bucknell. Third-place Pittsburgh was more than three lengths back in 7:48.39.

"We just rowed every phase of the race in fantastic fashion," said SPU Coach Keith Jefferson, whose men's lightweight four had taken second place at the Dad Vail championships in Philadelphia Saturday. After 400 meters, we were a deck up on Bucknell and we just kept adding to the lead," added Jefferson.

"This wraps up a very, very positive season for the program and it's super exciting for this group in particular."

Jefferson and assistant coach Paul Christensen had made the 2500-mile drive toting four boats from Seattle beginning last Monday so that his crew could row in their familiar shells rather than borrow like previous years. In 1999 the Falcons finished third in the women's grand final at CICR.

This year's lineup included three members of the bronze-medalist crew, with the only newcomer being stroke oar Kristin Gadbois (Fr., Seattle/Ballard), a novice. Completing the lineup were No. 3 seat Jesse Pennington (Jr., Englewood, Co./Riverview Christian), No. 2 seat Kendra Cox (Sr., Olympia, Wa./Tumwater) and Amy LeCount (Sr., Battle Ground, Wa.) in the bow. The coxswain is Christina Lovell (Sr., Camas, Wa.).

Seattle Pacific had won two of its final three races, including the Cascade Sprints, before coming east. In the morning qualifying heat, Bucknell had finished two seats up on SPU while Mercyhurst had won the other heat. Mercyhurst finished fifth in the grand final.

The Falcons' second women's four had advanced to the semifinal stage of the Dad Vail before being eliminated there Saturday.

Champion International Collegiate Regatta Women's Varsity Four Grand Final
1, Seattle Pacific, 7:36.07; 2, Bucknell, 7:43.11; 3, Pittsburgh, 7:48.39; 4, Vermont, 7:52.89; 5, Mercyhurst, 8:00.58; 6, Orange Coast College, 8:10.83.