RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (May 3) -- Five of Seattle Pacific University's six boats have moved into their respective grand finals during the first day of racing at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships Saturday on Lake Natoma.

The Falcons, while they did not win a single qualifying heat, pushed their women's varsity four, lightweight four, novice four and men's light four into Sunday's championship round. The men's varsity pair, which did not have a prelim event, will also race.

Seattle Pacific, secure in third place, did not bother going into a sprint in the women's varsity four heat, finishing behind Saint Mary's and UC Santa Barbara. The novice four was second and light four third. SPU is the defending WIRA champion in both the women's light and novice fours. The men's light four was third as well.

The men's novice four, needing to finish second or higher, took third in its heat and later was third in the petite final.