PHILADLEPHIA (May 12) -- For the second year in a row a Seattle Pacific University men's crew earned a medal at the national championships Saturday as the novice four rowed to third place at the Dad Vail Championships on the Schuykill River.

The Falcons, who got a silver medal from their lightweight four in 2000, edged Johns Hopkins by one-tenth of a second to finish third in the grand final behind Minnesota (7:18.9) and North Carolina State (7:26.4). SPU was timed in 7:29.8 rowing into a 20 m.p.h. headwind.

Seattle Pacific, which had won its opening heat Friday, earned a place in the final by taking second to Minnesota in the second of three semifinals.

The novice four lineup was comprised of stroke oar Tyler Van Stright (Fr., Grand Rapids, Mi./Grand Rapids Christian); No. 3 Joel Braman (Fr., Wyoming, Mi./Calvin Christian); No. 2 Kyle Glines (So., Meridian, Id.); and bow seat Trevor Winters (Fr., Spokane, Wa./North Central). The coxswain was Angie Stearns (Fr., Stanwood, Wa.).

The women's varsity four defends its national title Sunday at the Avaya Collegiate Championships in Gainesville, Ga.

Dad Vail Freshman/Novice Four Grand Final
1, Minnesota, 7:18.9; 2, North Carolina State, 7:26.4; 3, Seattle Pacific, 7:29.8; 4, Johns Hopkins, 7:29.9; 5, Barry, 7:33.5; 6, Army, 7:35.4.