RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (May 2) -- Seattle Pacific University cruised to a second straight women's varsity four championship while the men's lightweight four required a late surge to win their category at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships Sunday at Lake Natoma.

The Falcon women used a strong start to move in front, and then continued to pull away. They finished 12 seconds ahead of Gonzaga, the runner-up. It was the seventh win in eight races this season and the 17th in 20 outings over two seasons.

"They didn't need to sprint, but they went ahead anyway," said SPU Coach Keith Jefferson, who will take the women's crew to the ECAC National Invitational Championships May 9 in Worcester, Mass. "It's a really good set-up to their trip back east."

Also contending for a national championship next weekend will be an undefeated men's light four. Seattle Pacific shadowed UC Santa Barbara for the first 1500 meters, never trailing by more than a half boat-length. Then the Falcons out-sprinted the Gauchos to prevail by 0.7 seconds for their second regional crown in four years. The men, now 5-0, are bound for the Dad Vail Regatta, which begins Friday in Philadelphia.

Two other SPU crew didn't fare as well. The men's novice four took a bronze medal while the men's pair was fourth in its grand final. The novices were unable to atone for a sluggish start and finished behind Lewis & Clark (a team the Falcons had beaten twice previously) and Long Beach State. Still, the novices, who were second in the conference championship, will go to the Dad Vail.

Seattle Pacific's WIRA Finals Lineups:

• Women's Varsity 4: Stroke­Sarah Zorn; 3­Andi Martineau; 2­Heidi Visser; Bow­Carly Bollen; Coxswain­Joanna Hodgkiss.
• Men's Varsity Light 4: Stroke­Joel Braman; 3­Trevor Winters; 2­David Stalsbroten; Bow­Ryan Suess; Cox­Emily Thomas.
• Men's Varsity Pair: Stroke­Dave Carson; Bow­John Paul Ramirez
• Men's Novice 4: Stroke­Phil Chase; 3­Jeremy Bryant; 2­Jason Mobley; Bow­Danny Simmons; Coxswain­Emily Fletcher

Women's Results

• Varsity 4 (Grand Final): 1-Seattle Pacific 7:32.8, 2-Gonzaga 7:44.2, 3-Orange Coast 7:48.6, 4-Saint Mary's 7:48.8, 5-UC Davis 7:54.9, 6-Oregon 8:01.8

Men's Results

• Lightweight 4 (Grand Final): 1-Seattle Pacific 6:54.6, 2-UC Santa Barbara 6:55.3, 3-California 7:10.9, 4-Willamette 7:17.1, 5-UC Davis 7:23.4, 6-San Diego State 7:34.8
• Pair (Grand Final): 1-Saint Mary's 7:18.4, Sacramento State 7:23.6, 3-Willamette 7:38.0, 4-Seattle Pacific 7:44.9
• Novice 4 (Grand Final): 1-Lewis & Clark 6:54.2, 2-Long Beach State 6:56.3, 3-Seattle Pacific 7:00.6, 4-San Diego 7:06.2, 5-Western Washington 7:07.5, 6-Puget Sound 7:19.7