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Stepping up. Perhaps a change in scenery will translate to a better bounty this weekend for the Seattle Pacific University crews this weekend. The Falcons will send their women’s varsity eight and men’s varsity four to the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships near Sacramento Saturday (Apr. 28). They will then be idle until at least May 12, when the women return to Lake Natoma for the Pacific Coast Championships.

Keep it going. Whereas his women’s fours used to be be consistently among the top boats at the WIRA, Coach Keith Jefferson’s eight is new to the scene. That crew pulled fourth in its opening heat last year, eventually winning the petite final. The men’s four was third in last year’s grand final. To qualify for grand finals this time around, the women must finish among the top three in Saturday’s heats. The men, who need to finish in the top two of their heat, drew lane 1 for their race with Western Washington, Sonoma State, Portland State and Santa Clara. The women are in lane 2 against Pacific Lutheran, Humboldt State, Chapman, Willamette and Orange Coast.

NCRC wrap. Seattle Pacific’s 10-year run of winning at least one women’s varsity event at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships was snapped as the Falcons’ best finishes were bronzes in both varsity fours. Two-time defending NCAA champion Western Washington swept the varsity, eight, four and second eights. The SPU women’s four was competitive with two Viking boats, finishing one-length back in 8:02. The varsity eight improved upon its placement of a year ago, taking fourth and 8 seconds in front of regional rival Humboldt State. Securing the top spot for any Seattle Pacific crew on the day was the women’s second varsity four which was a half-length behind Western. The men were victorious in the second varsity four category and were third in both the varsity and lightweight fours. Although the men’s varsity four lineup has been shuffled due to injuries and illness of late, the crew was a competitive third behind Western and Puget Sound.

Crew lineups this week

• Women
  • Varsity 8: Stroke-Rachel Savage, 7-Katie Wolff, 6-Amy Burns, 5-Rachel Strand, 4-Kay Chikos, 3-Erin Arkin or Katie Wilner, 2-Melissa Blevins, bow–Denise Filley, coxswain-Megan Giske
• Men
  • Varsity 4: Stroke-Jeremy Bryant, 3-John Chevigny, 2-Ben Zupke or Erik Bright, bow-Justin Rowley, coxswain-Jeney Wierman

NCRC results

• Women’s Results
  • Varsity 8: 1-Western Washington 6:40.75, 2-Puget Sound 6:52.22, 3-Pacific Lutheran 7:06.47, 4-Seattle Pacific 7:10.10, 5-Lewis & Clark 7:12.13, 6-Humboldt State 7:18.38, 7-Willamette 7:18.91
  • 2nd Varsity 8: 1- Western Washington A 7:14.90, 2-Puget Sound 7:17.75, 3-Western Washington B 7:31.59, 4-Humboldt State 7:32.00, 5-Pacific Lutheran 7:56.72
  • Varsity 4: 1-Western Washington B 7:57.80, 2-Western Washington A 7:58.41, 3-Seattle Pacific 8:02.65, 4-Willamette 8:14.18, 5-Puget Sound 8:16.15, 6-Pacific Lutheran 8:27.18, 7-Humboldt State 8:48.67
  • Novice 8: 1-Humboldt State A 7:33.75, 2-Western Washington 7:42.16, 3-Humboldt State B 7:48.03, 4-Willamette 8:01.60, 5-Puget Sound 8:09.25
  • Novice 4: 1-Western Washington 8:01.70, 2-Puget Sound 8:10.36, 3-Humboldt State 8:14.39, 4-Seattle Pacific 8:14.98, 5-Lewis & Clark 8:33.04, 6-Willamette 8:43.88
  • 2nd Varsity 4: 1-Western Washington 7:59.90, 2-Seattle Pacific 8:02.12, 3-Humboldt State 8:19.18, 4-Pacific Lutheran A 8:20.84, 5-Pacific Lutheran B 8:22.97
• Men’s Results
  • Varsity 4: 1- Western Washington 6:53.10, 2- Puget Sound 6:57.42, 3- Seattle Pacific 7:03.60, 4- Lewis & Clark 7:15.86, 5- Humboldt State 7:26.25, 6- Pacific Lutheran 7:28.22, 7-Willamette 7:37.29
  • Varsity Lightweight 4: 1- Pacific Lutheran 7:19.00, 2- Lewis & Clark 7:32.13, 3- Seattle Pacific 7:37.94
  • 2nd Varsity 4: 1- Seattle Pacific 6:56.92, 2-Humboldt State 7:05.55, 3- Puget Sound NT, 4- Lewis & Clark 7:28.89; 5- Western Washington 7:31.39
  • Novice 4: 1- Lewis & Clark 6:56.92, 2- Humboldt State 7:05.55, 3- Puget Sound 7:17.20, 4- Seattle Pacific 7:28.89, 5- Western Washington 7:31.39, 6- Pacific Lutheran 7:56.08

SPU Coaches. Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during his 16-year tenure as head coach. In the past eight years alone, Jefferson’s Falcons have claimed national titles in seven events, medaled in five others and won regional crowns in 10. A past oarsman, alumnus and assistant coach, Jefferson became the fifth head coach at Seattle Pacific University in the fall of 1990. In 2003 he took a leave of absence after being called up to active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. A lieutenant colonel in the reserves, Jefferson was n active member of the Marines from 1983-87. Jefferson succeeded Jim Schultz as coordinator of the program after serving two seasons as an assistant. A graduate of Bothell High School, Jefferson rowed for Seattle Pacific from 1979-83. He was a member of the light four which advanced to the semifinal at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia in 1982. Keith and his wife Lori have a son, Randy, and daughter, Emma, and reside in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Jessica Pennington is in her fifth year as assistant. She was oarsman of the year and an all-region selection as a senior in 2001. Kip Wassink, who stroked a varsity four at Dad Vail in 1999, returns for his second season on the staff.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.