Rowing Wraps Up Spring Opener in San Diego

2022 San Diego Crew Classic oklahoma

March 26-27 | All Day | Mission Bay | San Diego, Calif.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Oklahoma rowing team started strong in its first true action of the spring season at the 49th annual San Diego Crew Classic this weekend. All five OU boats entered into the regatta earned spots in the grand final of their respective competitions.

"It was great to get back on the water for our first competition of the spring season," said head coach Leeanne Crain. "All of our boats performed quite well in Saturday's heats and I was pleased to have all of our boats in the top finals. We're still working on finding the most competitive lineups so we'll be continuing to work on boat selection in the coming weeks. We have a competitive schedule ahead so we'll be working hard to find more speed each week."

Preliminary races were run Saturday afternoon to separate the boats into Sunday's primary and secondary finals. The first varsity eight, guided by Riley O'Neill, led the way for the Sooners, posting a 07:15.758 to take second place in their heat to book a spot in the finals of the UCSD Health Cal Cup. The second varsity eight finished with a time of 07:19.779 to take fourth in their heat to move into the grand final of the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy competition.

The first varsity four kept the trend going for the Crimson and Cream boats, taking third in their heat (08:05.742) to punch their ticket to the grand final. Limited entries moved the second varsity four straight into Sunday's final.

Racing for the Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy, the novice eight took fifth in their heat with a 07:35.238.

Sunday's action consisted of solely grand finals for the Sooners, kicked off once again by the first varsity eight. The group posted a fourth-place finish (07:00.189) in a race won by the No. 2 team in the country, Stanford. O'Neill and company improved by 15 seconds from their preliminary time on Saturday.

Both the first varsity four and the second varsity eight battled stacked fields in their final races in Mission Bay. Of the eight boats involved in each race, six of them came from top-16 teams in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll. OU's first varsity four claimed fifth place (08:02.271), topping No. 16 UCLA's boat, while the second varsity eight finished in eighth place (7:14.563).

OU's second varsity four, coxswained by California native Sydney Pino, wrapped up the weekend with a third-place finish and a time of 07:48.140.

Up Next

The Sooners next hit the water at the Ohio State Invite in Columbus, Ohio, on April 9. It will be the program's first time competing in the regatta.

Saturday Results

Women's Collegiate Varsity UCSD Health Cal Cup Heat 1
2. Oklahoma: 07:15.758
- O'Neill, Pergouli, Robinson, Nisevic, Guild, Arthur, Edil, Pilz, McKay

Womens Collegiate Varsity 4+ Heat 1
3. Oklahoma: 08:05.742
- Mulligan, Jovanovic, King, Baker, Serven

Womens Collegiate 2V Heat 1
4. Oklahoma: 07:19.779
- Nork, Della Valle, Walsh, Smith, Williams, Wilson, Woolery, Lynch, Beck

Womens Collegiate Novice Heat 1
5. Oklahoma: 07:35.238
- Bruhn, Zieschang, Wright, Deller, Williams, Hochevar, Gonzales, Rector, Hall

Sunday Results

Womens Collegiate Varsity UCSD Health Cal Cup Final 1
4. Oklahoma: 07:00.189
- O'Neill, Pergouli, Robinson, Nisevic, Guild, Arthur, Edil, Pilz, McKay

Womens Collegiate Varsity 4+ Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup Final 1
5. Oklahoma: 08:02.271
- Mulligan, Jovanovic, King, Baker, Serven

Womens Collegiate 2V Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy Final 1
8. Oklahoma: 07:14.563
- Nork, Della Valle, Walsh, Smith, Williams, Wilson, Woolery, Lynch, Beck

Womens Collegiate Novice Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy Final 1
5. Oklahoma: 07:33.913
- Bruhn, Zieschang, Wright, Deller, Williams, Hochevar, Gonzales, Rector, Hall

Womens Collegiate 4+ B entries Final 1
3. Oklahoma: 07:48.140
- Pino, Stonebraker, Hedgpeth, Martin, Lazenby