Day One Release

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (May 1) ­ Although they took a circuitous route, the Seattle Pacific University men's pair won the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships Sunday on Lake Natoma.

The Falcons nearly won their third straight WIRA crown in the women's varsity four but a sprint came up 20 feet short and they settled for the silver medal.

Jeremy Bryant (So., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) and Jason Mobley (Sr., Burien, Wa./Highline) crossed into lanes on either side and nearly collided with one crew before going in front in the final 500 meters. They pulled away and won by 7.1 seconds over Portland in 7:39.8.

A week ago Bryant and Mobley won the conference title. They finished the season unbeaten at 4-0.

"It was amusing at times as they veered all over the course," said SPU coach Keith Jefferson. "But the bottom line is they won and did so convincingly."

In the women's four grand final, Seattle Pacific was in the middle of the pack before making its move. The crew of Carly Bollen (Jr., Missoula, Mt./Valley Christian) and Andi Martineau (Sr., Superior, Mt.), Alicia Apple (Jr., Sequim, Wa.), Megan Sweeney (Jr., Wilsonville, Or.) and coxswain Megan Giske (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) swept past Gonzaga and Western Washington and was closing fast on St. Mary's when the Gaels hit the finish line with SPU on its stern.

St. Mary's was timed in 7:40.0 and the Falcons, who next go to the ECAC National Invitational Championships in Massachusetts, were next in 7:43.1.

"We knew it was going to be a tough race and it was," said Jefferson, whose crew has won the past two national titles. "Maybe another few strokes and we would've gone in front."

The varsity four's first race at the national championships is Saturday in Worcester.

Men's varsity pair: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:39.8, 2-Portland 7:46.9, 3-Sacramento State 7:50.9, 4-Orange Coast College 7:51.6, 5-Santa Clara 7:52.4, 6-UC Santa Barbara 8:03.5

Women's varsity four: 1-St. Mary's 7:40.0, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:43.1, 3-Gonzaga 7:46.5, 4-Western Washington 7:48.4, 5-Long Beach State 7:50.7, 6-Oregon 7:51.4