EUREKA, Calif. (Mar. 24) Battling both the elements and one of their top rivals in the region, Seattle Pacific University rowers won three of the four varsity encounters with host Humboldt State Saturday at the Blue Heron Redwood Sprints.

The Falcons were first in both the women's varsity eight and four, and also posted a win in the men's four. Tides and currents always pose unique problems for crews at the regatta, but dense fog also rolled in for some of the races on Humboldt Bay.

Coach Keith Jefferson said that while SPU won by a boat-length in the featured women's varsity eight category, fog hung over the final 1000 meters and an incoming tide made steering an adventure for the coxswains. The Falcons won in a time of 7:32.42. Humboldt's three rigs came in with times of 7:39.98, 7:47.66 and 7:50.75.

In the women's four, Seattle Pacific finished in 7:36.11. Humboldt was a distant second in 8:04.67 while Mills College came in third (8:17.00). Humboldt's novice eight and lightweight four won, with SPU placing third in each.

In the men's varsity four, a rough water and a poor start could not deter the Falcons from winning with open water over the Lumberjacks in 7:32.42. In a rare varsity eight outing SPU was second to HSU. Humboldt also won the novice and light fours.

Next Saturday the fleet rows at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Invitational in Vancouver, Washington.

Women's Results

• Varsity 8 -- 1-Seattle Pacific 7:32.42, 2-Humboldt State ŒA' 7:39.98, 3-Humboldt State ŒB' 7:47.66, 4-Humboldt State ŒC'7:50.75
• Varsity 4 -- 1-Seattle Pacific 7:36.11, 2-Humboldt State 8:04.67, 3-Mills College 8:17.00
• Novice 8 -- 1-Humboldt State ŒA' 7:12.98; 2-Humboldt State ŒB'7:21.19, 3-Seattle Pacific 7:32.93, 4-Mills College 8:02.47
• Lt 4/JV4 -- 1-Humboldt State ŒA' 7:52.97, 2-Humboldt State ŒB' 8:10.93, 3-Seattle Pacific 8:26.07, 4-Mills College 9:01.58

Men's Results

• Varsity 8 -- 1-Humboldt State 6:21.62, 2-Seattle Pacific 6:32.91, 3-Cal Maritime 7:40.09
• Varsity 4 -- 1-Seattle Pacific 7:32.42, 2-Humboldt State ŒA' 7:39.98, 3-Humboldt State ŒB' 7:47.66, 4-Humboldt State ŒC' 7:50.75
• Novice 4 -- 1-Humbolt State 6:49.78, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:11.06, 3-Cal Maritime 7:30.29
• Lightweight/JV 4 -- 1-Humboldt State 6:45.77, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:18.36